TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A KMT heavyweight has proposed a new formulation for Taiwan-China relations, under which the two sides coexist under "separate governance" while "sharing the same sovereignty.”
Former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said, "The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other in terms of governance but share sovereignty without division (兩岸治權互不隸屬,主權同而不分).” Wang presented his cross-strait proposal on Sunday as he launched the Moral Peace Union, a new cross-strait think tank, per Nikkei Asia.
Wang’s proposal marks a departure from the KMT’s previous rhetoric, as the party prepares to elect a new chair next year. His proposal varies from the 1992 consensus of “one China, with respective interpretations” backed by KMT heavyweights such as former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫).
The KMT contends the “consensus" is that both sides acknowledge there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what “China” means. However, the DPP has never accepted the 1992 consensus, saying it implies that Taiwan is a part of China.
Wang said his proposal acknowledges the reality that the two sides are governed separately, but he stressed that doors should be open for peaceful exchange. He called for a pragmatic approach that acknowledges each side’s histories and realities.
Both sides "have developed their unique way of life,” according to Wang. “This is a reality that we must face squarely. And the people on both sides of the strait jointly inherit Chinese culture and have the same traditions in language, customs, religion and beliefs. This is also a historical fact that we must accept."
However, critics of Wang’s proposal said it fails to recognize Taiwan's democratic will. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung commented, “Taiwan is a sovereign, independent, democratic country. Seeking to separate sovereignty from the right to govern makes it easy to fall into a dispute over terms.”
To others, Wang's proposal strikes a more pragmatic tone compared to KMT hardliners such as Legislature Caucus Convener Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁), who warned Lai against provoking China. KMT Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) has also criticized the DPP’s use of "the Republic of China, Taiwan" as a way to assert "Taiwan independence."