Strait Talk: The full interview

TIME: Thank you for giving us your time. We believe you are very busy these days. I read in the newspapers today that the LA Times interviewed you last Friday. So why don't we start with some of the questions that were raised in that interview? Is the island of Taiwan an independent sovereign country?
Chen: Of course, Taiwan is a country. Undoubtedly, Taiwan is an independent sovereign country. I think, apart from a very few, most Taiwanese people firmly believe that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country. Therefore, we should not hold any doubt or question as to whether Taiwan is a country - an independent sovereign country.

TIME: So are you rejecting any idea of the "one China" principle?
Chen: The so-called "one China" principle, or its eight characters in Chinese, equates with "peaceful unification and the 'one country, two systems' formula," with the "one country, two systems" formula as its core emphasis. Therefore, the "one China" principle is the "one country, two systems" formula. We cannot accept the "one country, two systems" formula; therefore, we cannot accept the "one China" principle. The so-called "one country, two systems" formula calls for the People's Republic of China to represent "one China," under which two systems will be operating in one country, similar to the Hong Kong model.

Under the "one country, two systems" formula, Hong Kong is a special administrative region, a local government of China. And Hong Kong is certainly not a country. However, Taiwan is different from Hong Kong. We cannot possibly accept the "one country, two systems" formula and become a local government of the People's Republic of China. Nor can we possibly become a local province or a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China.

Back in 1999, a year before the 2000 presidential election, the Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution regarding Taiwan's future, firmly stating that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country, which, according to the current Constitution, bears the national designation of the Republic of China. It has no jurisdiction over the People's Republic of China, nor does the PRC exercise any effective jurisdiction over the Republic of China.

In the resolution regarding Taiwan's future, we raised seven points. One of them is to reject the so-called "one China" principle. We must reject the "one China" claim.

TIME: Mr. President, do you accept the idea of eventual unification with China?
Chen: I had stated very clearly in my inaugural speech on May 20, 2000, that leaders across the Strait should use their wisdom and creativity while adhering to the principles of democracy and parity to work together to deal with the question of a future one China, based on the existing foundations.

TIME: Mr. President, that does not answer the question. It is the policy of the KMT to believe in eventual unification. What is the DPP's policy? Do you believe in eventual unification or not?
Chen: I have not yet finished my response to your question, and I am not evading your question, either. The KMT, the current opposition party, supports the policy of unification with China. Their policy is to promote cross-strait reunification. However, the DPP holds a different idea. My belief, my basic thinking of cross-strait relations throughout the 20 years of my political career has been that, since ancient times, a unified state or situation over a long period of time in the world will eventually give way to separation. Likewise, a long period of separation is bound to lead to unification again some day. Therefore, a country may be divided into a number of countries, while many countries may also unite into one. Take the European countries, for example. Many countries exist in Europe today, but in the future, they may become one unified country.

Moreover, there can be many ethnic groups within one country, and one ethnic group could also extend into many countries. For example, the former West and East Germanys are now united into one country. Before unification, they were separate countries and they were both members of the United Nations. Currently, there are two separate, independent countries across the Taiwan Strait, neither of which has jurisdiction over the other. But who knows if these two separate countries might become one over time? We do not exclude any possibilities for the future. But it is very clear that currently the status quo and the reality is that Taiwan is an independent sovereign country, and obviously neither the PRC nor the ROC exercises effective jurisdiction over the other.