ARATS
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A Formula for Beijing-Taipei Coexistence Would a passive non-denial of the one-China principle work for cross-strait relations?
By Emily S. Chen February 24, 2016 In an annual meeting of officials in charge of Taiwan affairs, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, delivered some remarks on Beijing’s Taiwan policy agenda for 2016. To push forward the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, Beijing will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, firmly opposes any form of secessionist activities seeking Taiwan independence, and resolutely safeguards national sovereignty and territorial integrity. As Taiwan President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and her traditionally pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still decline to accept the one-China principle, the future of cross-strait relations is fraught with uncertainties. If an active acceptance of the one-China principle is not in Tsai’s makeup, will a passive “non-denial” of the principle work in a new Beijing-Taipei relationship? Beijing’s Concerns It is worth noting that this is the first time in the past three years that Yu included the one-China principle in his annual speech. Before this year, instead of directly citing the principle, Yu emphasized the importance of adhering to the “1992 Consensus,” a verbal agreement between Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) to keep the concept of “one China” but allow strategic uncertainty surrounding its precise definition to maintain cross-strait ties. The particular inclusion of the one-China principle this year signals that Beijing is worried about Tsai’s recent attempts to reinterpret the Consensus, and intends to clarify that the one-China principle is the essence of the Consensus. To assure the Taiwan public that she can manage the relations with Beijing, Tsai has recently begun to express her views on the Consensus rather than eschew the whole concept entirely. She argued that she does not deny the “historical fact” of the cross-strait dialogues in 1992 and that she hopes to return to the “original spirit of setting aside differences to seek common grounds that formed the basis of the 1992 cross-strait meetings.” Yu’s speech, however, sends a message to Tsai: What matters is not the phraseology of the 1992 Consensus, but the core of the Consensus, the one-China principle. Surprisingly, while Beijing is not satisfied with Tsai’s interpretation of the Consensus, it is not intensely pressuring Tsai to accept the one-China principle as a condition of continued cross-strait exchanges. One explanation is that Beijing is still waiting to see what changes occur in Tsai’s cross-strait policy before Tsai assumes office on May 20. A strong reaction would be premature. Another explanation is that Beijing might have noticed that with the current domestic atmosphere unfriendly toward Beijing, Tsai is unlikely to accept the one-China principle. To agree to the principle, Tsai will be facing pressure both from the Taiwan public and her political party. A polling result has shown that since 2007 identity as “Taiwanese” has ranked first among all options –including choices of “Chinese” and “both Taiwanese and Chinese.” This growing Taiwanese consciousness makes it less likely that people in Taiwan, particularly the younger generation, will uphold a concept that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. Within Tsai’s party, DPP’s 1999 Resolution on Taiwan’s Future, which Tsai has confirmed as the party guidelines today, indicated that Taiwan should “renounce the ‘one China’ position.” This wording fundamentally contradicts Beijing’s one-China principle. The other explanation is that it is in Beijing’s interests to continue adopting policy approaches to engage with people in Taiwan to win the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people. In his speech this year, Yu stressed that Beijing will seek to facilitate exchanges in culture, education, tourism and religion and promote economic integration to “benefit as many small businesses, farmers and fishermen as possible.” Beijing believes that a deepening relationship with people in Taiwan would improve the understanding between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and will further reverse any negative impression of Mainland Chinese in Taiwan society. In its most recent effort, Beijing has announced to donate five million yuan to Taiwan’s Red Cross Society through its Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) for earthquake recovery and relief efforts in Taiwan. A Non-Denial Formula If an active acceptance of the one-China principle is nigh on impossible for Tsai Ing-wen, would a passive non-denial of the one-China principle work for Beijing and Tsai? In fact, Tsai has gradually taken small steps to show that her cross-strait policy is compatible with what Beijing wants. Although she does not advocate the one-China concept, Tsai has signaled that her administration will promote the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait relations based on an “existing political foundation,” which contains “the existing Republic of China (ROC) constitutional order.” In its latest response to Tsai’s cross-strait policy, Beijing said nothing new but simply reiterated the one-China principle, “the fact that the Mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed, and will not change.” Indeed, Beijing’s repeatedly mentioning the one-China principle has made it clear that the new Taiwan government has little choice but to address the principle. After all, cross-strait relations have been developed based on the one-China principle for the past seven years, and it is hardly likely that Beijing will accept a step backwards from its hope to achieve the national reunification with Taiwan. While Beijing may show some flexibility in accommodating a temporary policy of non-denial of the one-China principle temporarily, it is unclear when Beijing’s patience will run out.
Chen invites ARATS chief to visit Taiwan
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian invited the mainland's top cross-Strait negotiator to visit the island on Wednesday, calling the two sides to reopen political talks. The invitation was extended to Wang Daohan, president of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), at the memorial service of Koo Chen-fu, Wang's former Taiwan counterpart. "We welcome Wang for a visit if his health and time permit," Chen said in his eulogy to Koo, former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), who died of cancer last month aged 87. Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, said on January 28 that the mainland is ready to talk with Taiwan "president" Chen Shui-bian as long as he agrees that the two sides of the Straits belong to the one and same China. It was the first time that Beijing has categorically shown its willingness to deal with Chen, who was once branded as one of the separatists. Due to Chen's denial of the one-China principle and obstinate push for Taiwan "independence," the mainland has ruled out any contact with the Taiwan leader since he took power in May 2000. "We are open on who to negotiate with and what to negotiate," said Jia, referring to Chen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). "We have no bias against any particular person to talk to, nor will we hesitate to talk with the other side just because someone has come to power." ARATS and SEF were set up in 1991 to handle civilian affairs between the two sides of Taiwan Straits. Koo and Wang held a landmark dialogue in Singapore in 1993 which led to a series of meetings between both sides to explore ways to solve their disputes. Chen urged both sides Wednesday to learn from what has been achieved in the historic Singapore talks. "We hope both sides, based on the same tolerance for each other (as at the Koo-Wang talks), would restart negotiations and dialogue... to create a new horizon for cross-Strait peaceful developments," Chen told the 2,500-strong crowd attending the service, according to an AFP report. "We should actively seek reconciliation and resume dialogue to build mutual trust.... This is the spirit of the Koo-Wang talks and Koo's most valuable legacy to people from both sides of the Strait." Koo visited the mainland in 1998 and met then President Jiang Zemin. Wang had promised a return trip but cancelled after Lee Teng-hui, then Taiwan leader, claimed sovereignty over the island. Wang, who is in weak health, sent ARATS vice president Sun Yafu and secretary-general Li Yafei to pay condolences to Koo, marking the highest-level mainland officials to visit to the island in 10 years. Sun and Li paid their last respects to Koo's family after the memorial service. "We will deliver the invitation (to Wang)," Sun told reporters. Sun and Li arrived Tuesday, two days after the two sides exchanged the first direct cross-Strait flights in 55 years to shuttle Taiwanese businesspeople and their families back home for the Lunar New Year holidays. Officials and experts said the trip itself was a barometer of the improved ties between Taiwan and the mainland. "The trip is a crucial goodwill gesture from Beijing... either in the select personnel or scenario," Su Chi, from the opposition Kuomintang party and former head of Taiwan's "Mainland Affairs Council (MAC)." But another former council chief Tsai Ing-wen remained cautious saying "it would be too early to say the icy ties are beginning to thaw." While relations may have eased recently, the fundamental dispute between the two sides remains unresolved. Beijing has refused to reopen talks unless Taiwan embraces the "one China" principle.
Mainland, Taiwan negotiators sign service trade agreement
SHANGHAI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Negotiators from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan signed a service trade agreement on Friday that is expected to further strengthen economic ties across the Taiwan Strait. The agreement was inked by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), which are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan, respectively, to handle cross-Strait affairs. According to the agreement, the mainland will open 80 service sectors to Taiwan, while Taiwan will open 64 sectors to the mainland. The sectors include those related to commerce, telecommunications, construction, distribution, environment, health, tourism, entertainment, culture, sports, transportation and finance. ARATS President Chen Deming said the agreement "marks a new level for cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation and complies with the trend of the world's economic development." Under the service trade deal, the threshold for market access will be lowered for service providers from both sides and more favorable policies will be formulated to boost cross-Strait cooperation in the service industry. The agreement will further normalize and liberalize service trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, as well as promote the opening-up of mutual markets in the service sector, the ARATS and SEF said in a joint press release. It is one of several follow-up agreements to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), a comprehensive cross-Strait economic pact signed in 2010. The pact is intended to reduce tariffs and commercial barriers between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan. The service trade agreement has stipulated basic service trade principles, rights and obligations, the orientation of development and relevant working mechanisms for both sides. Also on Friday, the ARATS and SEF vowed to proceed with other follow-up agreements to the ECFA. Negotiations on a commodity trade agreement and a dispute settlement agreement are expected to be completed before the end of 2013, and a pact to avoid double taxation is expected to be signed in the later half of this year. The ARATS and SEF have also agreed to address shortages of fresh water in Kinmen and move ahead with talks on the establishment of offices on each other's side. They will hold talks on agreements regarding cross-Strait cooperation on earthquake monitoring and matters of meteorology. The two sides also pledged to further exchange views on Chen Deming's proposal to launch negotiations on agreements that would facilitate cross-Strait exchanges in culture, education and science. ARATS Executive Vice President Zheng Lizhong said at a press conference after the signing ceremony that the mainland and Taiwan have set up a consultation mechanism to further open up the industry in the service trade pact. "Opening up the service trade industry is a gradual process," Zheng said, adding that follow-up consultations will be needed for such liberalization depending on the industry's future development and changes in market demand. Mainland Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun said while meeting with SEF Chairman Lin Join-sane on Friday that "the service trade agreement has expanded and enriched cross-Strait economic cooperation." As an active response to aspirations from both sides, the new deal will bring greater welfare to people across the Strait, said Zhang, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) is an organization set up by the People's Republic of China for handling technical or business matters with the Republic of China (ROC).
2 The ROC counterpart to ARATS is the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).
3 Chen Yunlin, who was formerly head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, is the current head of ARATS.