National Unification Council
Encyclopedia
The National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China
(Taiwan) which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China
into the Republic of China.
In February 1991, the council drafted the Guidelines for National Unification
, which outlined a three-phase approach for Chinese unification. The Guidelines called for Beijing to democratize and become more developed as the precondition for serious talks about steps toward eventual integration.
The Council was suspended in early 2006, President Chen Shui-bian
remarking:
Chen had previously called for the NUC to be “abolished” but later toned this down to "cease to function". The Government was evasive on whether “cease to function” was the same as “abolish” but it is clear that under Republic of China law, the NUC still exists.
There have been calls for President Ma Ying-jeou to reinstate the National Unification Council, the China Daily Post (Taiwan) remarking in a commentary:
The guidelines stipulate that "both the mainland and Taiwan areas are parts of Chinese territory. Helping to bring about national unification should be the common responsibility of all Chinese people."
The meaning of "one China" adopted by the "national unification council" on August 1, 1992 says that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits agree that there is only one China. However, the two sides of the Straits have different opinions as to the meaning of 'one China'."
The council had already been out of operation under the administration of Chen Shui-bian
since 2000, who has leant towards Taiwanese independence
and opposed Chinese reunification
. At the same time, in his "Four Noes and One Without
" policy, Chen promised not to abolish formally the Council or the Guidelines for National Unification
, in order to allay international concern about his possible moves toward declaring independence.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
into the Republic of China.
In February 1991, the council drafted the Guidelines for National Unification
Guidelines for National Unification
The Guidelines for National Unification were written by the National Unification Council, an advisory body of the Republic of China government, regarding the reunification of China. The Guidelines for National Unification were adopted by the Executive Yuan Council on February 23, 1991...
, which outlined a three-phase approach for Chinese unification. The Guidelines called for Beijing to democratize and become more developed as the precondition for serious talks about steps toward eventual integration.
The Council was suspended in early 2006, President Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
remarking:
“The National Unification Council will cease to function. No budget will be ear-marked for it and its personnel must return to their original posts...The National Unification Guidelines will cease to apply. In accordance with procedures, this decision will be transmitted to the Executive Yuan for notice.”
Chen had previously called for the NUC to be “abolished” but later toned this down to "cease to function". The Government was evasive on whether “cease to function” was the same as “abolish” but it is clear that under Republic of China law, the NUC still exists.
There have been calls for President Ma Ying-jeou to reinstate the National Unification Council, the China Daily Post (Taiwan) remarking in a commentary:
The best and easiest way to show his sincerity is to reinstate the National Unification Council made to cease to function by President Chen. Or to sign a peace accord with President Hu Jintao.
History
The National Unification Council held 14 meetings from its founding to April 8, 1999.The guidelines stipulate that "both the mainland and Taiwan areas are parts of Chinese territory. Helping to bring about national unification should be the common responsibility of all Chinese people."
The meaning of "one China" adopted by the "national unification council" on August 1, 1992 says that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits agree that there is only one China. However, the two sides of the Straits have different opinions as to the meaning of 'one China'."
The council had already been out of operation under the administration of Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
since 2000, who has leant towards Taiwanese independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
and opposed Chinese reunification
Chinese reunification
Chinese reunification refers to the bringing together of all of the territories controlled by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China under a single political entity...
. At the same time, in his "Four Noes and One Without
Four Noes and One Without
The Four Noes and One Without , also known as the Four Noes was a pledge by former President of the Republic of China Chen Shui-bian made in his inauguration speech on 20 May 2000 concerning the political status of Taiwan...
" policy, Chen promised not to abolish formally the Council or the Guidelines for National Unification
Guidelines for National Unification
The Guidelines for National Unification were written by the National Unification Council, an advisory body of the Republic of China government, regarding the reunification of China. The Guidelines for National Unification were adopted by the Executive Yuan Council on February 23, 1991...
, in order to allay international concern about his possible moves toward declaring independence.
Abolition
In his lunar new year speech in 2006 President Chen Shui-bian instructed the DPP to begin formal debate on the permanent abolition of the National Unification Council and the guidelines set out therein. On February 27, 2006, Chen formally announced that the council would "cease to function" and its guidelines would "cease to apply".See also
- Cross-Strait relationsCross-Strait relationsCross-Strait relations refers to the relations between People's Republic of China and the Republic of China , which lie to the west and east, repectively, of the Taiwan Strait in the west Pacific Ocean....
- Political status of TaiwanPolitical status of TaiwanThe controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
- Mainland Affairs CouncilMainland Affairs CouncilThe Mainland Affairs Council is a cabinet-level administrative agency under the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China. The MAC is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of policies between the Free Area of the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, and the People's...
- Taiwan Affairs OfficeTaiwan Affairs OfficeThe Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council is an administrative agency under the State Council of the People's Republic of China. It is responsible for setting and implementing guidelines and policies related to Taiwan, as stipulated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and...
External links
- Guidelines for National Unification at WikisourceWikisourceWikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...