Gao Konglian, participant in the preparation of the Wang-Koo talks: The peaks and troughs of cross-strait relations are all tied to the "consensus of '92"

Beijing, 4 Apr (ZXS) -- Gao Konglian, a participant in the preparations for the Wang-Koo talks: The peaks and troughs of cross-strait relations are all tied to the "consensus of '28."

China News Agency reporters Li Hanxue and Liu Shuling

Thirty years ago, the Wang-Koo talks enabled cross-strait relations to take a historic step, improve and develop after more than 30 years of confrontation. Today, as the situation in the Taiwan Strait becomes more complicated and severe, a reporter from the China News Agency interviewed Gao Konglian, former vice chairman and secretary general of Taiwan's Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), who served as vice chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council at the time of the Wang-Koo talks.

Mutual trust and understanding led to the Wang-Koo talks

Gao Konglian said: After the two sides of the strait were opened up to family visits in 1987, there was initially only one task group within the Taiwan administration (this group was called the "Mainland Work Conference Newspaper," with Ma Ying-jeou as the executive secretary and Gao Konglian as the deputy executive secretary) responsible for relevant work. Unexpectedly, cross-strait non-governmental exchanges increased rapidly, and correspondingly, problems such as document verification and registered letter inquiries urgently needed to be resolved through consultation. Against this background, mutual trust and mutual understanding between the two sides of the strait eventually led to the Wang-Koo talks.

Gao Konglian said that mutual trust is an important prerequisite for consultation, and it is necessary to show goodwill to each other and match words with deeds. At that time, the two sides of the strait experienced a long period of isolation, and both sides were willing to normalize relations. Both the ruling Chinese Kuomintang and mainland officials in Taiwan hope to move toward reunification, oppose "Taiwan independence," and promote better development of the Chinese nation, so that the two sides can trust each other.

During the consultations and formal talks, the two sides were considerate of each other. First of all, the "consensus of '1992" is a consensus reached based on mutual respect after the Hong Kong talks in <> and a series of subsequent exchanges of letters and telegrams. On this basis, there were the Wang-Koo talks.

Second, during the talks, the responsible persons of the two sides of the strait switched places after signing each agreement and took turns sitting on the right side (Chinese cultural tradition respects the "right"). The original agreement to be signed was three, and the exchange was uneven, so the two sides formed the fourth "Wang-Koo Talks Joint Agreement" (which produced an important substance, that is, each meeting should decide the next topic to be discussed). The care and appropriateness of the details of the ceremony can be seen.

Gao Konglian also recalled that the two elders of Wang and Gu were similar in age and both had Chinese cultural literacy; In addition to the serious negotiation topics, there is a common interest in Peking Opera to talk about, which is also very helpful in easing the tension in the negotiations. At that time, hundreds of international media gathered in Singapore to pay attention to the Wang-Koo talks, competing to report on this harmonious scene.

Looking back at the grand occasion of those years, Gao Konglian sighed with emotion: At present, the DPP authorities occasionally promote cross-strait relations, but more words and deeds seek to "de-Sinicize", so it is difficult for the two sides of the strait to establish mutual trust.

Adhering to the "consensus of '92" has had two peaks

Gao Konglian believes that in the past 30 years, cross-strait relations have experienced two peaks, namely the realization of the Wang-Koo talks and the signing of four agreements from 1992 to 1995, and the historic meeting between leaders Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou between the two sides of the strait from 2008 to 2015. These two peaks were reached on the basis of the two sides of the strait jointly adhering to the "consensus of '<>."

After Ma Ying-jeou became the leader of the Taiwan region in 2008, Jiang Pingkun and Gao Konglian took up their posts at the SEF on 5 May, and immediately sent a letter to the ARATS, suggesting that consultations be resumed on the basis of the "consensus of '26." At this stage, the two sides of the strait signed relevant agreements on mainland residents' travel to Taiwan, cross-strait air transport, cross-strait shipping, cross-strait joint fight against crime and mutual judicial assistance, and the Framework Agreement on Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation (ECFA), which has significant economic and social benefits for both sides of the strait.

The two troughs in cross-strait relations, from 2000 to 2008 and 2016 to the present, were caused by the DPP authorities' refusal to recognize the "consensus of '<>." Gao Konglian said that the current trough period does not see where the "lower limit" is, and returning to the "consensus of '<>" is a top priority; Alternatively, the DPP authorities should come up with alternative and constructive proposals, not just negative statements. Ma Ying-jeou's recent visit to the mainland was affirmed by public opinion in Taiwan, proving that the "consensus of '<>" is still the key to effectively promoting the development of cross-strait relations.

To enhance people's understanding of the "consensus of '92," the two sides of the strait should do more

In recent years, due to the distortion and misdirection of the DPP, many Taiwan people do not understand the "consensus of '92." Gao Konglian believes that the disapproval of the "consensus of '92" by some people stems to a large extent from lack of understanding, and the two sides of the strait should use various methods to let the people understand the actual meaning of the "consensus of '92." Ma Ying-jeou's trip to the mainland achieved this effect. Taiwan's latest poll conducted by the Qisi Min Foundation shows that the proportion of those who are in favor of developing cross-strait relations on the basis of the "consensus of '92" is higher than that of those who oppose it.

He particularly pointed out that the Taiwan people should realize that cross-strait relations are very crucial to Taiwan's development, that peace must be pursued, and that "Taiwan independence" is absolutely unfeasible. The people should think about whether those dark green elements who are uncertain about their words and deeds for the election are suitable to lead Taiwan's future; If there really is a war, how much damage will be caused to life and property.

Gao Konglian said: The cross-strait situation is more complicated and tense today than during the Wang-Koo talks. In the past, the United States was happy to see cross-strait reconciliation, but now it has only seen absurd remarks such as frequent arms sales and politicians allocating guns to the Taiwan people, and the two sides of the strait must remain vigilant against this.

"The two sides of the strait are of the same language and the same species, and many things can be resolved through communication, and we really should not fight each other." Gao Konglian mentioned that when Ma Ying-jeou recently visited the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, he wrote "peaceful struggle to rejuvenate China." (End)