Jiang Zemin?s Eight-point Proposal for the Development of the Cross-Straits Relations and the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification (1995)

??In his speech, ?Continue to promote the Reunification of China?, delivered on January 30,1995, Jiang Zemin, general Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of the country, put forward eight propositions for the development of the cross-Straits relations and the promotion of peaceful reunification. This is a programmatic document governing the settlement of the Taiwan question. The main points of Jiang?s speech are as follows:

(1) ON the contents and steps of peace talks. First, under the principle of ? one China?, negotiations should be held with the aim of ending the confrontation and reaching an agreement. On these grounds, the two sides should shoulder the obligation together to maintain China?s sovereignty and territorial integrity and plan future development of cross-Straits relations. Jiang Zemin made clear that the two parties could negotiate about the name, place and form of political negotiations.

(2) On the participation of parties in peace talks. Jiang Zemin mentioned that in the process of talks on peaceful reunification, the representative figures in any party and group across the Straits can be invited to participate in the talks. Jiang didn?t refer to the negotiations and the third cooperation between the CCP and the Kuomintang, marking the adjustment of the policy in accordance with changes of internal situation in Taiwan.

(3) On the foreign relations of Taiwan. Jiang pointed out, ?We don?t challenge that Taiwan develops non-governmental economic and cultural relations with foreign countries. But any activity aimed at creating ?two Chinas? and ?one China, one Taiwan? under the guise of ?expanding international living space? is firmly opposed, for such activities of the Taiwan authorities cannot solve problems; instead, they only foster the Taiwan independence forces to undermine the process of peaceful reunification more unscrupulously.?

(4) ON the strengthening of economic exchanges and cooperation across the Straits. Proceeding from the overall situation of achieving economic prosperity for both sides of the Straits to the benefit of the entire nation, Jiang Zemin said, ?We maintain that political differences should not affect or interfere with economic cooperation between the two sides?; We will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of industrialists and businessmen from Taiwan under whatever circumstances?; ?We are in favor of conducting this kind of negotiations on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit and signing non-governmental agreements on the protection of the rights and interests of industrialists and businessmen from Taiwan?.

(5) On the problem that the Taiwan question cannot be delayed indefinitely. Jiang Zemin pointed out that early reunification of the???????????motherland is the common aspiration of the Chinese people of all nationalities while an endless delay of the reunification is what no patriotic compatriot wants to see. (The white paper ? The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Question? issued in 2000 by the Chinese government states definitely that in case a serious incident should break out where Taiwan splits from the motherland in whatever names, or if the Taiwan authorities refuse to negotiate the settlement of reunification indefinitely, the Chinese government is forced to take and possible drastic measure, including the use of force, to settle the Taiwan question.)