Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairwoman and 2012 presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen
speaks at a press conference detailing the cross-strait and national security platforms for the
party’s 10-year policy guideline in Taipei, yesterday.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 2012 presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen openly denied the validity of the “1992 Consensus” yesterday, proclaiming that one cannot admit to something that “does not exist.”
“In 1992, there was not such a term as the ‘1992 Consensus,’” the DPP chairwoman said at a Taipei conference detailing the cross-strait and national security platforms for the party’s 10-year policy guideline. “Even the person who invented the term in 2000 admitted he created it on his own.”
In response, incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou staunchly defended the consensus, hailing it as the bedrock of the Republic of China (R.O.C.) constitution and foundational basis for cross-strait relations.
Overturning the Consensus of 1992 will push cross-strait relations into “a state of uncertainty,” Ma said, stressing that removing the consensus will significantly impact both sides, but inflict the most harm on Taiwan’s part
In a question and answer session with the press, Tsai also attacked the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) signed between Taiwan and China last year. “The ECFA is a divisive agreement that created fear and anxiety in the public, mainly because it was far from transparent when the Ma administration signed it,” she charged.
“(If) the DPP comes into power in 2012, we will do a full reevaluation of the agreement and create follow-up strategies with the full participation of the public.”
The 1992 Consensus is a tacit agreement between the two sides in which both recognize a “One China principle” but differ on its definition. The Consensus has allowed Taiwan and China to sidestep sovereignty disputes and cooperate on agreements that encourage cross-strait developments, such as the ECFA.
American Report 