China's focus face to face: The situation in the Taiwan Strait raises concerns, where is the future?

(Focus on China face to face) The situation in the Taiwan Strait raises concerns, where is the future?

　　China News Service, Beijing, November 3rd, title: The situation in the Taiwan Strait has caused worries, where is the future?

　　——Interview with Liu Guoshen, Director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations

　　China News Agency reporter Zheng Qiao

　　Recently, the two sides of the strait have held a series of activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. All walks of life have expressed their high expectations for the reunification of the motherland.

The US arms sales to Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party's efforts to seek "independence", and the PLA military planes circumvent Taiwan. The current situation in the Taiwan Strait has caused concerns. Where will the future cross-strait relations go?

　　Liu Guoshen, director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations and a distinguished professor of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Focus on China" for authoritative interpretation.

Excerpts from the interview are as follows:

Reporter from China News Service: The Taiwan issue began with the weak and chaotic nation. The fact that the two sides of the strait have not yet been fully reunified is a trauma left by history to the Chinese nation.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. A series of commemorative activities have been held on both sides of the strait. How do you think we should view and discuss the Taiwan issue from a historical perspective?

　　Liu Guoshen: If you break away from Taiwan's history and Chinese modern history, discussing the Taiwan issue must be very superficial and weak.

Because of the weak and chaotic nation, the Qing government was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and Taiwan was ceded.

The backwardness of the system was an important reason for the weak and chaos of the nation at that time.

　　The Chinese have spent almost 40 years, and have traveled hundreds of years in Western society. The current state of development in China is envied by the whole world. What is the reason?

Obviously, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is in line with China's national conditions.

Both sides of the strait should no longer simply entangle the so-called system disputes. The most important thing is to cherish and tolerate each other.

The mainland's proposal of "one country, two systems" also leaves some room for Taiwan to continue to practice their system.

Today we are commemorating the 75th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. We should especially understand from the system level that it is not easy for the Chinese to develop to this day.

Liu Guoshen, director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations and a distinguished professor of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Focus on China" for authoritative interpretation.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

China News Agency reporter: Recently, the US government approved the arms sales plan to Taiwan twice within a week, and the US Deputy Secretary of State also "visited Taiwan" in September.

Using the Taiwan issue to contain China and the US's frequent actions, what impact has it had on the cross-strait situation?

　　Liu Guoshen: Actually now, for Taiwan, a battle with the mainland is the next strategy. I think that is crazy.

Anyone with a clear mind knows that Taiwan is not a military opponent of the mainland at all.

For the mainland, it also has its own development process. So far, the Chinese government has insisted on peaceful reunification on the Taiwan issue. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will strive to resolve it peacefully.

　　The biggest instability factor in the Taiwan Strait issue now comes from the United States.

In order to contain China out of its own self-interest, the United States has used various methods of extreme pressure, and the Chinese government has responded calmly.

Now we must use Taiwan as the last trump card to put pressure on the Chinese government.

This time is a very severe test for both sides of the strait.

If the Taiwan authorities cannot stand it and cross the red line, it is entirely possible that the two sides of the strait will "wipe out guns and misfire." This is our biggest worry.

For the Chinese mainland, of course, we are also prepared in this regard. On the one hand, we have to negotiate with the US government, and on the other hand, we must remind the leader of the Taiwan authorities that doing so will be beneficial to the people of Taiwan, the Chinese, and the Chinese nation. No good?

China News Service: Since the DPP authorities came to power, they have promoted a series of "independence" actions and linking up with external forces, making cross-strait relations more complicated and severe.

What do you think of the series of actions of the DPP authorities?

　　Liu Guoshen: For the DPP authorities, the main purpose is to confront the mainland. Up to now, its "Taiwan independence" separatist position has not changed.

It wants to warm up some American forces and win some support, but what does it bring to Taiwan?

I think this is to quench thirst by drinking poison, to link up with external forces, and even cooperate with certain countries to exert extreme pressure on China (mainland), and finally hurt cross-strait relations.

　　For Taiwan, the best way to solve the problem is to handle cross-strait relations well.

We also hope that the leaders of the DPP authorities will face up to the current basic cross-strait situation and refrain from doing things that hurt the feelings of the people on both sides of the strait.

China News Agency reporter: Some media interpreted the talk of the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, Cai Ing-wen, on October 10, the tone and tone of the talk slowed down. It was the most "soft" since taking office.

Do you agree with this view?

　　Liu Guoshen: I do not agree with this view.

In fact, she is still very tough in her bones. Let's not be fooled by some words on the surface.

She still insisted on thinking of fighting against the mainland.

If she does not change her mentality, she will use some individual so-called soft words to solve the problems between the two sides of the strait.

　　When the leader of the Taiwan authorities speaks, he must take into account the feelings of the mainland people. Don't act fast by yourself, think from another angle, and see how the mainland people understand what you said.

China News Agency reporter: For some time, the PLA has increased the scale and frequency of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. The mainland officials have also made it clear that there is no so-called "central strait" between the two sides of the strait. Some people are worried that it will create a social psychological defense line in Taiwan. Disintegration, do you think it is possible for the two sides of the strait to "wipe out guns and misfire"?

　　Liu Guoshen: The probability of "wiping guns and misfires" is now rising sharply.

There is no political mutual trust between the two sides of the strait, and the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations has actually been seriously damaged.

In this case, the two sides lack effective communication channels, and there are big differences in cognition, and they don't know where the rules are. Therefore, "wiping guns and misfires" cannot be ruled out.

In the past, it could not be ruled out, but now this possibility has actually increased. You must be very careful.

　　As experts and scholars studying the Taiwan issue, we have to pay attention to the serious anxiety of the Chinese people on the Taiwan issue. In fact, the voices advocating a complete settlement of the Taiwan issue are quite loud.

Therefore, in the event of "wiping the gun and misfire", the situation may not be shifted by people's subjective will.

Liu Guoshen, director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations and a distinguished professor of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Focus on China" for authoritative interpretation.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

Reporter from China News Service: You just mentioned that the mainland has a lot of discussions in this area.

In your opinion, is now the best time to resolve the Taiwan issue?

　　Liu Guoshen: In fact, there is no best time to solve the Taiwan issue. There is only a question of "better" time, and only a question of "Where are the better opportunities?"

　　In fact, the country is a game of chess as a whole. The leaders of the Chinese government always speak very comprehensively every time they make important speeches, and many things are planned as a whole.

Therefore, all kinds of non-governmental discussions must be respected and understandable, but everyone must not blindly follow the trend, but believe that the central government is capable of handling the Taiwan issue.

China News Agency reporter: This year, the world economic situation is extremely severe. In the first three quarters, cross-strait trade volume has bucked the trend and increased by 12.4%. In August, Taiwan's exports to the mainland also hit a record high, which shows that the mainland market is becoming more important to Taiwan.

However, some green campers want to restrict cross-strait exchanges, vainly trying to "disconnect" the mainland economy and "broken the link" of culture.

We have also seen that the DPP authorities have set up barriers to cross-strait exchanges more frequently since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia. Do you think it has a big impact on cross-strait exchanges?

　　Liu Guoshen: Since Tsai Ing-wen came to power, she believes that Taiwan’s dependence on the mainland’s trade under Ma Ying-jeou has reached 42%, which is a “sell Taiwan”, but today Taiwan’s dependence on mainland trade has reached 46%, and the cross-strait trade volume has increased year by year. From January to September this year, it was more than 180 billion (US dollars, the same below), and Taiwan’s surplus exceeded 100 billion.

　　The mainland's unswerving promotion of cross-strait economic and trade relations shows that it has no selfishness in handling the Taiwan issue. It is far-sighted. It is from the perspective of the common well-being of the people on both sides of the strait and the pursuit of a better life for the people on both sides of the strait.

The development of cross-strait economic and trade relations is actually beneficial to both sides of the strait. Over the past few decades, it has been proved that the scenery here is unique especially in the current global recession.

　　Although the two sides now have great differences, the mainland side has shown great patience and tried its best to maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

It is very irresponsible to the people to easily interrupt all aspects of cross-strait exchanges.

Therefore, on the one hand, the DPP authorities are enjoying the dividends of cross-strait exchanges, and on the other hand they should say those things.

China News Agency reporter: Recently, Taiwanese artists such as Ouyang Nana and Angela Chang have been threatened for singing songs such as "My Motherland" at the "Eleventh" party; the DPP authorities also passed "legislation" to contain Aiqi earlier What do you think of such actions on mainland audio-visual platforms such as art?

　　Liu Guoshen: This is still ideology in command, or even a struggle of power, full of calculations of the DPP’s own party struggles on the island.

These are very negative actions, and they have no nourishment for cross-strait relations and Taiwan.

　　Many artists in Taiwan are singing this song. This is normal behavior.

Sharing the markets on both sides of the strait, presenting the best of each other and developing together, is actually good for both sides.

The DPP authorities are going to punish these artists, but it seems unpopular at present, and they can't do it anymore.

Now some platforms on the mainland have been blocked, including iQiyi and Taobao (Taiwan), which has brought inconvenience to the people of Taiwan.

Because of political considerations, it must be turned off. Is this good for the DPP’s governance?

This is very short-sighted behavior and must be condemned.

Reporter from China News Service: Over the past 30 years, cross-strait exchanges have grown from scratch and have continued to expand and deepen. Cross-Strait personnel exchanges and economic, cultural, and social ties have reached an unprecedented situation. How do you see the impact of this situation on cross-strait relations?

　　Liu Guoshen: We must highly affirm the achievements of cross-strait relations over the past 40 years, especially the past 30 years.

Therefore, the economic, cultural, and social aspects of the two sides of the strait are actually getting closer and closer, which also proves that our Taiwan policy is successful.

The current situation is for the mutual trust between the two sides of the strait, for the two sides of the strait to find a common political foundation, to form our common cognition, emotions, and values, to form common interests, and to create conditions for the ultimate peaceful and win-win resolution of the differences between the two sides. .

　　In the past so long, the mainland has actually taken great care of the feelings of Taiwan. This is still thinking about issues from the perspective of the nation.

Therefore, we must cherish such great achievements in cross-strait economic and cultural exchanges.

Liu Guoshen, director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for the Peaceful Development of Cross-Strait Relations and a distinguished professor of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Focus on China" for authoritative interpretation.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan

China News Service: November 7 is the fifth anniversary of the "Xi Ma Club". What do you think this landmark meeting between leaders of the two sides of the strait has for the current cross-strait relations?

　　Liu Guoshen: On November 7, 2015, the leaders of the two sides of the Strait, Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou, met in Singapore. This gave a lot of enlightenment to the current cross-strait relations, indicating that as long as the two sides of the strait have a common political foundation, there are no problems that cannot be resolved.

In the past, there were many grievances and grievances between the KMT and the Communist Party. There were many obstacles to meeting the leaders of the two sides of the strait. However, as long as the Chinese people on both sides of the strait are sincere, patient, and wise enough, we have a good way to solve the problem, including what the leader calls Question, in the end, "Mr. Xi Jinping" and "Mr. Ma Ying-jeou", isn't it a very good arrangement?

　　The leaders of the two sides of the strait will meet in Singapore. In fact, both sides have made concessions behind the scenes, and these concessions must not violate the political foundation that both sides of the strait belong to one China.

As long as this is achieved, we should still have some room for imagination for the future of cross-strait relations.

China News Service reporter: Do you judge, where will cross-strait relations go in the future?

　　Liu Guoshen: The dominant power in cross-strait relations is actually in the hands of Mainland China.

We are full of confidence in the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and will not forget the fundamentals and structural aspects of cross-strait relations because of temporary setbacks.

There is no division of territory on both sides of the strait, no division of the people, no division of sovereignty, and now it is a matter of seeking the ultimate and complete reunification of China.

We hope to achieve unity on more levels, including economic, social, cultural, medical standards, norms and standards, etc. There are some that we must hurry to promote, and some are immature and cannot be reckless.

　　Politics must still serve the reality and the people's yearning for a better life.

The choice of leaders of the Taiwan authorities is very limited.

Cross-strait relations must continue to advance, and exchanges are very important.

There are various differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. In fact, they can be handled from the perspective of "one country, two systems" to accommodate both sides.

　　In the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Taiwan issue must be resolved invisible. This is my personal belief. I also hope that the DPP authorities will not cross the bottom line, because if the bottom line is crossed, no one can say for sure, and it may accelerate Taiwan. In the process of solving the problem, both parties may pay a great price.

(Finish)