Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) reiterated Thursday that the "1992 consensus" serves as the one and only bedrock for solid exchanges between Taiwan and China. The foundation made the comment in response to a remark the previous day by opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen, who said cross-Taiwan Strait relations will move forward if she is elected. Tsai, whose party denies the existence of the "1992 consensus" -- under which the two sides of the strait agree that there is only one China, with each side free to interpret the meaning of "one China" -- said that under a "Taiwan consensus" she has proposed as a democratic mechanism in which different opinions can be fully presented and evaluated, new dialogue with China will take place to improve mutual ties. However, speaking at a year-end press conference, SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian blasted her idea as "empty" and a "blank check" that could eliminate the mutual trust nurtured by the Ma administration between Taiwan and China. "Tsai should be very careful because her agenda will have an impact on not only internal affairs but also on the global community," Kao said. "A responsible political party should not risk people's wellbeing with unclear policies," he added. Instead, he said, the "1992 consensus" is the only way to maintain peace and current exchanges. "You can call the consensus an 'understanding,' or a 'tacit understanding,'" he said. "Like it or not, it's a historical fact and no improvement in cross-strait relations will be made without acknowledging it." The most important significance of the "1992 consensus" is that it allows discussion about political controversies to be shelved, Kao said. "It came into being because Taiwan does not accept the mainland's 'one China' principle," he added.
(By Lee Hsin-Yin)

"It came into being because Taiwan does not accept the mainland's 'one China' principle,"

most Taiwanese don't like joining China and be called Chinese, while most of the Chinese always think Taiwan is a self-governed district of China, so of course, when join, Taiwan must be called Chinese...

yes Chinese don't call Hong Kong ppl Chinese... but we do. Almost all of the world do. All they know is Hong Kong now is in China, so everyone there is Chinese, no exception. Unless they asked us to call them differently.

The acceptance of both side is very important. Take a look at Vietnam, we were once 2 different country and just like China and Taiwan right now. The North was Communism while the South was Capitalism. We were united becuz of the war. Without the war, I must say, we are still different countries.

Why? Ppl in the North see the South as part of Vietnam. But the ppl in the South see themselves as a different country. Unless we agree on some point or ignore this issues, the problem is very hard to solve...

I tend to see everyone, not as a Vietnamese see a Chinese, Taiwanese, Australian, American, etc. but as friend to friend. I see Dawnice as a friend first, then a Chinese second. That's how I can still be friends with my Chinese classmates although we are fighting each other on the sea.

However, sad thing is that not everyone can look at ppl like that, some ppl in my country even go to the extreme that they hate every Chinese. I don't know if the same thing happens between China and Taiwan or not, but it's an example of the importance in the acceptance between the two.

Right, now shall we go by nationality or heritage? Or what the person believes he/she is? If we go by what the person believes they are, then do the rest of the world agree?

There's always people in Taiwan that want to unite with Mainland. There's always people in Mainland that want Taiwan as a part of China. Then there's people on both sides (mainly Taiwan) that oppose.