A policy of "one country, two systems" on Taiwan http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ziliao/3602/3604/t18027.

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A policy of "one country, two systems" on Taiwan

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2000/11/17
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Suggest to a friend Taiwan is a sacred and inseparable part of China's territory. Owing to reasons known to all, Taiwan has since
1949 been separated from the mainland. To bring about the complete reunification of China is the common
aspiration of all the Chinese, both in the country and overseas. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese
Submit government take the completion of the grand cause of China's peaceful reunification as their historical mission
and have made protracted efforts towards this end.

The Chinese government advanced the proposal of peaceful reunification back in the 1950s. In May, 1955,
Premier Zhou Enlai stated that "the Chinese people are willing, when conditions permit, to strive to liberate
Taiwan by peaceful means." In May, 1960, Chairman Mao said that provided Taiwan is returned to the
motherland, with the exception of foreign affairs which must be handled by the national authorities, all the military
and political power and the power of appointing officials may be delegated to the Taiwan authorities. This is the
origin of the concept of "one country, two systems". In January, 1979, Deng Xiaoping advanced the concept of
"one country, two systems" and stated that "so long as Taiwan returns to the embrace of the motherland, we will
respect the realities and the existing system there." On September 30, 1981, Ye Jianying, Chairman of the
Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, officially put forward a nine-point proposal for
bringing about the peaceful reunification of the mainland and Taiwan. He said that "after China is reunified,
Taiwan may become a special administrative region. It may enjoy a high degree of autonomy and may keep its
military forces. The national government will not intervene in the local affairs of Taiwan." "Taiwan's current social
and economic systems will remain unchanged, its way of life will not change, and its economic and cultural ties
with foreign countries will not change.' A provision on setting up special administrative region was added to the
Constitution of the People's Republic of China passed at the Fifth Session of the National People's Congress in
1982, providing legal basis for accomplishing "one country, two systems". On January 30, 1995, President Jiang
Zemin delivered an important speech entitled Continue to Strive to Complete the Grand Cause of China's
Reunification. In the speech, he elaborated the concept of "one country, two systems" and made an eight-point
proposal for improving the across strait relations during the current stage and accelerating the process of China's
peaceful reunification.

Deng Xiaoping's scientific concept of "one country, two systems" was advanced in light of Taiwan's realities. It
both upholds China's state sovereignty and takes into full account the specific conditions of Taiwan. According to
the concept of "one country, two systems", two systems will be practiced within the sovereign state of the
People's Republic of China. On the premise of one China, the main body of the country will practice the socialist
system, while the existing capitalist system and way of life in Taiwan will remain unchanged for a long period of
time. This concept is highly flexible in that it both gives full expression to the principle of bringing about China's
reunification and upholding its sovereignty and takes into full consideration the history and realities of Taiwan. To
practice "one country, two systems" will facilitate the reunification of China, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation
and peace and development in the world. The concept has been warmly received by the Chinese people both in
China and overseas and by the world public opinion. Guided by the basic guideline of "one country, two systems"
and related policies, major progress has been made in the across strait relations. The across strait exchanges in
personnel, scientific, cultural and sports fields have maintained a strong momentum, and the across strait
economic exchange has greatly benefited both sides. All this shows the strong vitality of the concept of "one
country, two systems". Taiwan's future lies in its reunification with the motherland, and attempt to split China will
never be accepted as an alternative. Li Denghui and a small number of people in Taiwan who betray the principle
of one China and advocate the creation of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in an attempt to split China
are doomed to failure as they will surely run into the firm opposition of the entire Chinese people including the
people of Taiwan. To accomplish China's reunification is the trend of the time and common aspiration of the entire
Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait. With the joint efforts of the entire Chinese people including the
compatriots in Taiwan, the day will certainly come when China is reunified.

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