One-China principle underlined at 30th anniversary of agreement

Adhering to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, is the anchor for the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Straits, experts on Taiwan affairs said.

A symposium was held in Beijing on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the consensus that was reached between the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation and the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.

The two organizations agreed in 1992 that they should express verbally that both sides of the Straits adhere to the one-China principle and strive for national reunification.

Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said no matter how the situation across the Straits changes, "the time, tide and righteousness" to resolve the Taiwan question have always been on the side of the forces that advocate reunification.

He stressed that only by adhering to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus can cross-Straits relations return to the right path of peaceful development.

The two sides must and will be reunified, which is the common will of all Chinese people, he said, adding that the mainland will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification.

Sun Yafu, vice-chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, said the consensus was formed after the end of the isolation between the two sides of the Straits and aims to advance consultation and negotiation.

"It is a result of applying the political wisdom of seeking common ground while shelving differences," said Sun, who witnessed the process to reach the consensus between the two sides.

Huang Zhixian, president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said since the consensus was reached, the political interaction between the two sides has made breakthroughs, pushing forward the process of peaceful reunification.

Cross-Straits exchanges in various fields have been flourishing, and have promoted mutual understanding between compatriots of the two sides, he said.

The two sides have signed more than 20 agreements to arrange for cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

However, since the Democratic Progressive Party, which denies the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, came to power on the island in 2016, the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations has suffered seriously, Huang said.

Wang Sheng, executive vice-president of the National Society of Taiwan Studies, said the consensus is the common position and the basis for cooperation between the two sides.

The current situation across the Straits is tense, Wang said, adding that the DPP advocates that the two sides do not belong to each other and relies on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence", while the foreign forces increase their playing of the Taiwan card.

Nevertheless, the mainland is determined to deal with the provocations, patient in promoting reunification, and capable of thwarting the attempts at separatism, he added.