DPP China Affairs Committee Releases “2014 China Policy Review: Summary Report”

After the fifth plenary meeting of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s China Affairs Committee held today, January 9^th, the party released its 2014 China Policy Review: Summary Report, accompanied by the following statement from Chair Su Tseng-chang: 

China is a challenge that spans the blue-green divide and must be met by all political parties in Taiwan.  The China Affairs Committee is the DPP’s first attempt at establishing a permanent standing platform that, through the use of expanded meetings, attempted to solicit a broad range of opinions from the bottom up, inviting civil society organizations to participate in the process of formulating our policy on China.  My hope was that in this way, with an extended communication and exchange of views, the infusion of the society’s energy would help to make our deliberations more thoughtful and more grounded, bringing our policy more closely in line with the expectations of the people.  The 2014 China Policy Review: Summary Report is thus the product of the joint efforts of party staff, elite scholars, and civil society leaders.

There are four features that run through the report:

1.   More confident.  We want to proactively and confidently participate [in the cross-Strait dialogue], and encourage the party’s think tank as well as local municipalities to engage with their counterparts on the other side of the Strait.

2.   More thoughtful.  We believe that cross-Strait economic interactions should continue on the basis of the existing foundation, but a strategy that aims to preserve Taiwan’s technological edge will help Taiwan secure its autonomy and trade advantage.  In the face of diverging interests, the government must adopt a balanced approach and insist on an environment of fair competition for both domestic enterprises and Taiwanese business in China, while also seeking to protect those who are harmed in the course of cross-Strait trade.

3.   More secure.  Continuing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations requires maintaining regional peace.  In the diplomatic realm, we should strengthen our connections with neighboring countries and democratic partners; in national defense, we must maintain sufficient self-defense capability to sustain the status quo.

4.    More welcoming.  We place great importance on civil society interaction between the two sides of the Strait, on enhancing and broadening our base of mutual understanding with ordinary Chinese people.  Through a gradual review and amendment of the relevant laws and regulations we should seek to construct for the Chinese spouses, Chinese students, and Chinese visitors a hospitable environment conducive to a dignified and fulfilling life, productive studies, and safe travels.

When it comes to China, I have long held that “Economic survival is the priority, with democracy as a cornerstone.”  Cross-Strait stability facilitates economic prosperity for Taiwan.  Only by building up our country and consolidating our democracy will we be able to meet the expectations of the people.  The DPP will continue to explore relevant new issues as they arise in the future through the China Affairs Committee framework.  This is not the end of the process, but the initiation of a permanent standing committee that will produce reports on a regular basis.  The DPP will persist in our efforts in this important work.

For the full report in Chinese and English, please click here. 

English section starts on page 17.

DPP China Affairs Committee Releases “2014 China Policy Review: Summary Report”