Deng Xiaoping on Peaceful Reunification of Chinese Mainland and Taiwan

At a meeting with Dr. Winston L.Y. Yang, Professor at Seton Hall University, USA, in Beijing on June 26, 1983, Deng Xiaoping, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party'sCentral Advisory Commission, put forward some specific proposals for the peaceful reunification of China.
Deng Xiaoping said: "The crux of the matter is reunification of our motherland, and peaceful reunification has come to be common language for both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party." He said that reunification of China does not mean the mainland swallowing up Taiwan, nor vice versa, rather it is hoped that the Kuomintang and the Communist Party will work together for national reunification and con-tribute to the Chinese nation.
Deng Xiaoping does not agree with the formulation of "complete autonomy" for Taiwan. He said autonomy has its limits and, this being the case, "complete autonomy" is simply out of the question. "Complete autonomy" means "two Chinas," not one China. The social system on Taiwan may be different from that on the mainland, but only the People's Republic of China is entitled to represent China in the international arena, he stressed.
"We recognize the Taiwan local government's right to follow its own internal policy," Deng Xiaoping said. Althougha local government, the government in Taiwan, which will be a special administrative region, will be different from other provincial, municipal and even autonomous regional governments. It may have some exclusive rights denied to other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, on condition that these rights do not impair the interests of the unified state.
Deng Xiaoping said that after the country is reunified the Taiwan special administrative region may retain its special identity and practise a system different from that of the mainland. It may exercise independent jurisdiction and the right of final judgment need not reside in Beijing, he said.
"Taiwan may also keep its own armed forces, so long as they do not constitute a threat to the mainland. The mainland will station neither troops nor administrative personnel in Taiwan. The political party, government, and armed forces in Taiwan will all be administered by Taiwan itself. Seats in the Central Government will be reserved for Taiwan," he added.
Deng Xiaoping pointed out that peaceful reunification does not mean the mainland swallowing up Taiwan, of course, or vice versa. "Reunifying China with the Three People's Principles" is unrealistic, he said.
"There should be appropriate measures for achieving reunification," Deng Xiaoping said. "This is why we have proposed talks between the two Parties on an equal basis to bring about a third round of co-operation, rather than negotiations between the central and local authorities."
"When the two sides have reached agreement,it will be officially announced. But foreign interference absolutely will not be permitted, because it would only mean that China has not won complete independence, and there will be no endof trouble for the future."
Deng Xiaoping expressed the hope that the Taiwan authorities would discard their misgivings by making a careful study of the nine-point statement and the opening speech made by Deng Yingchao at the First Session of the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Deng Xiaoping spoke highly of the forum on the prospects of China's reunification that Dr. Yang held in San Francisco in March 1983. "You did a very good thing," he said to Dr. Yang.
Deng Xiaoping said, "We are to accomplish the cause left unaccomplished by our predecessors. If the Chiangs and all those who have devoted themselves to the cause of reunifying China can accomplish this cause, they will find themselvesbetter recorded in history."
"Of course," Deng continued, "it will take time to achieve the peaceful reunification. But it is not true to say that no one is anxious about this. People like us in old age hope that our national reunification will be realized at an early date."
Deng suggested that the two sides make more contacts in order to understand each other better. "We are ready to send our people to Taiwan at any time, and it is okay just to have a look and no talks. They are also welcome to send people here. We will guarantee their safety and keep it secret. We mean what we say. We play no tricks," he said.
Deng Xiaoping said, "We have obtained genuine stability and unity. Our principle for the peaceful reunification of our motherland was formulated after the Third Plenary Session of the llth Central Committee of the Communist Party. The relevant policies have been gradually completed afterwards and we will stick to them."
Referring to the Sino-US relations, Deng Xiaoping said that they have improved somewhat recently. But, he said,people in power in the United States have never given up "two Chinas" or "one and a half Chinas." The United States has lauded its system to the skies. But a president says one thing during the campaign, another when he takes office, another during the mid-term election, and still another near the next general election. The United States has also said that China's policies are unstable, "but our policies are far morestable than those of the United States," he concluded.