The PRC's One China Policy
Whether we acknowledge it or not, the world became a little more dangerous today. The People’s Republic of China took another step, a mostly ceremonial step, toward the passage of its anti-secession law. The law, which will soon be approved by the NPC after having been unanimously being approved by the NPC Standing Committee, establishes Beijing’s policy and expectations with regard to Taiwan in very direct terms.
In Wang Zhaoguo’s introduction of the anti-secession law to the parliament he reaffirmed China’s position that "There is but one China in the world, and both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division." He asserted multiple times that the issue of China and Taiwan being reunified is an internal affair, adding "we will not submit to any interference by outside forces." In his words, reunifying China and Taiwan is the "sacred duty of all Chinese people, the Taiwan compatriots included."
One of my favorite portions of his speech is his description of the potential for a reunified mainland and Taiwan where Taiwan would maintain a "high degree of autonomy" followed by a description of the measures the state would take to encourage reunification. If Beijing had shown any of those traits with its own people, it would be a stirring argument. Clearly knowing that Taipei isn’t going to jump to the chance to negotiate reunification under Beijing’s authority, the next portion of the speech concerns "non-peaceful" means to stop Taiwan’s independence.
"We have never forsworn the use of force. No sovereign state can tolerate secession and every sovereign state has the right to use necessary means to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. ...The draft legislation provides that in the event that the "Taiwan independence" forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The draft legislation also provides that the State Council and the Central Military Commission are authorized to decide on and execute non-peaceful means and other necessary measures, and promptly report to the Standing Committee of the NPC."
The NPC, after approving the law, will have given the military commanders the go ahead to act in the defense of the one-China policy based on the actions or words of the "Taiwan independence" forces.
This weekend protestors in Kaohsiung took to the streets to express their concern over the pending legislation. Vice President Annette Lu said "Taiwan will face a serious military threat from China as the new law will provide Beijing with a legal basis for using force against the country." She noted that is China who is changing the status quo, not Taiwan. Lai I-Chung has a similar take.
I couldn't agree more. China is setting the chess pieces up just as they want them, and we'll all have to play catch up at some point.
