Guidelines for National Unification
Encyclopedia
The Guidelines for National Unification ' onMouseout='HidePop("16170")' href="/topics/Pinyin">pinyin
: Guójiā Tǒngyī Gānglǐng) 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. The guidelines have a three step process for the gradual unification of mainland China
and Taiwan
.
The Guidelines for National Unification declared both sides of the Taiwan Strait to be Chinese territory, which paved the groundwork for "1992 Consensus
" and the Wang-Koo Talks between two sides. The first stage called for increased exchanges between the two sides. The second stage called for the opening of the three links
and visits by high-ranking officials on both sides for negotiations on equal footing. The final stage called for a consultative organization to be formed for the two sides to map out a constitutional arrangement for unification under a "democratic, free, and equitably prosperous China."
As part of the Four Noes and One Without
pledge, President Chen Shui-bian
had promised not to formally abolish the Guidelines for National Unification or the National Unification Council
despite his party's supportive stance on Taiwan independence
. In his Chinese New Year
address on January 29, 2006, President Chen Shui-bian
proposed abolishing the Guidelines for National Unification and the National Unification Council
. On February 27, 2006, Chen formally announced that the guideline would "cease to apply" and the council would "cease to function". The United States
initially warned Chen not to abolish either the council or the guidelines, but later refused to condemn him because it believed the absence of the term "abolish" was not a breach of the status quo. However, Chen was widely condemned by the People's Republic of China
, which warned that Chen "would bring disaster to Taiwan society." The Pan-Blue Coalition
also condemned the move as unnecessarily provocative, arguing that Chen needed to focus on economic issues in the face of a growing unemployment and suicide rate, and some legislators
started a petition to have Chen impeached. Chen defended his action as a response to the military threat from mainland China.
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Guójiā Tǒngyī Gānglǐng) were written by the National Unification Council
National Unification Council
The National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China into the Republic of China....
, an advisory body of the Republic of China
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...
government, regarding the reunification of China
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...
. The Guidelines for National Unification were adopted by the Executive Yuan Council on February 23, 1991. The guidelines have a three step process for the gradual unification 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...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
The Guidelines for National Unification declared both sides of the Taiwan Strait to be Chinese territory, which paved the groundwork for "1992 Consensus
1992 Consensus
The 1992 Consensus or Consensus of 1992 is a term describing the outcome of a meeting in 1992 between the semi-official representatives of the People's Republic of China in mainland China and the Republic of China in Taiwan...
" and the Wang-Koo Talks between two sides. The first stage called for increased exchanges between the two sides. The second stage called for the opening of the three links
Three Links
The Three Links or Three Linkages was a "message of Compatriots in Taiwan" calling for the unification of mainland China and Taiwan. It was sent by the PRC National People's Congress in 1979....
and visits by high-ranking officials on both sides for negotiations on equal footing. The final stage called for a consultative organization to be formed for the two sides to map out a constitutional arrangement for unification under a "democratic, free, and equitably prosperous China."
As part of the 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...
pledge, 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...
had promised not to formally abolish the Guidelines for National Unification or the National Unification Council
National Unification Council
The National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China into the Republic of China....
despite his party's supportive stance on Taiwan 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...
. In his Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
address on January 29, 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...
proposed abolishing the Guidelines for National Unification and the National Unification Council
National Unification Council
The National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China into the Republic of China....
. On February 27, 2006, Chen formally announced that the guideline would "cease to apply" and the council would "cease to function". The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
initially warned Chen not to abolish either the council or the guidelines, but later refused to condemn him because it believed the absence of the term "abolish" was not a breach of the status quo. However, Chen was widely condemned by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, which warned that Chen "would bring disaster to Taiwan society." The Pan-Blue Coalition
Pan-Blue Coalition
The Pan-Blue Coalition 泛藍聯盟 or Pan-Blue Force is a political alliance in the Republic of China , consisting of the Kuomintang , the People First Party , and the New Party . The name comes from the party colours of the Kuomintang...
also condemned the move as unnecessarily provocative, arguing that Chen needed to focus on economic issues in the face of a growing unemployment and suicide rate, and some legislators
Legislative Yuan
The Legislative Yuan is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of China .The Legislative Yuan is one of the five branches of government stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of China, which follows Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People...
started a petition to have Chen impeached. Chen defended his action as a response to the military threat from mainland China.
External links
- The Guidelines for National Unification（National Unification CouncilNational Unification CouncilThe National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China into the Republic of China....
official site: Chinese and English）