1992 Consensus

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The KMT has defined the 1992 Consensus as "one China with different interpretations", i.e. that both sides agreed that there was only a single China, but indirectly recognized and respected that both sides had different interpretations of that concept. [14] :229–230 The ambiguity of the 1992 Consensus allows the PRC to claim that both sides of the strait uphold the integrity of one China. On the other side, the same ambiguity allows the ROC to emphasize that it is the only China to which both the mainland and Taiwan belong. [14] :230 This facilitated the development of cross-strait relations in the early 1990s. [14] :230

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), however, does not conceive the 1992 meeting as consensus-producing. It argues that the concept of 1992 Consensus strengthens the PRC's claim over the sovereignty of Taiwan and does no better to the security of Taiwan than the situation before the meeting.[ citation needed ]

Some pro-independence supporters, such as former President Lee Teng-hui, point to a lack of documentation to argue that the consensus has never existed. [39]

According to Raymond Burghardt, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, the United States representative office in Taiwan:

"[There was] some language [in the faxes] that overlapped and some language that differed." Then Taiwan and China agreed to conduct dialog based on their statements written in those faxes. "That's what happened. Nothing more or nothing less," Burghardt said, adding that the KMT called this the '1992 Consensus', which was to some extent "confusing and misleading. To me, I'm not sure why you could call that a consensus." [40]

Public opinion in Taiwan

In 2018, academics conducted a survey in Taiwan to assess Taiwanese understanding of the 1992 Consensus. They gave respondents four possible meanings of the consensus:

Historic: On international affairs, both ROC and PRC claim to represent the whole Chinese people including both mainland and Taiwan.
KMT definition: ROC represents Taiwan, PRC represents the mainland, the two governments belong to the same country waiting for unification.
Incorrect: ROC represents Taiwan, PRC represents the mainland, the two governments belong to two different countries.
PRC definition: PRC represents the whole Chinese people including both mainland and Taiwan, and ROC is the local government.

They found that 34% chose the KMT's definition (which was acceptable to 48%), 33% chose the incorrect definition (acceptable to 75%), 17% chose the historic relationship (acceptable to 40%), and 5% chose the PRC definition (acceptable to 10%), and 11% did not respond. [41] [42]

A 2020 poll conducted by the Duke University Program in Asian Security Studies that asked "Some people argue that Taiwan and China should live under a policy of “One China, Two Rule” with ongoing exchanges. Do you support this statement?" found that 51.0% of respondents agreed and 39.5% of respondents disagreed. [42]

See also

References

  1. Grossman, Derek (3 June 2020). "Is the '1992 Consensus' Fading Away in the Taiwan Strait?". RAND Corporation . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 Derek, Grossman; Millan, Brandon Alexander (25 September 2020). "Taiwan's KMT May Have a Serious '1992 Consensus' Problem". Rand Corporation . Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  3. "新華社發佈報導禁用詞:「中華民國、臺灣政府」通通不准用,「九二共識」不可提「一中各表」" [Xinhua News Agency publishes report on banned terms: "Republic of China", "Taiwan government" are both not allowed to be used. The "1992 consensus" cannot mention "One China, Separate Interpretation".] (in Chinese). 20 July 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  4. Chen, Yu-Jie; Cohen, Jerome A. (2019). "China-Taiwan relations re-examined: the "1992 consensus" and Cross-Strait agreement". Penn Carey Law: Legal Scholarship Repository. University of Pennsylvania Law School . Retrieved 20 July 2024. Unlike her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou, Tsai Ing-wen has not recognized the existence of the "1992 Consensus." Yet, she has tried to reach a middle ground between Beijing's stance and that of her own party, the DPP. In her inaugural speech, she carefully worded her position, acknowledging the first meeting between SEF and ARATS in 1992 as "historical fact." She stated that the meeting had "arrived at various joint acknowledgments and understandings" and was conducted "in a spirit of mutual understanding and a political attitude of seeking common ground while setting aside differences," a phrase often used by Beijing... In other words, while Tsai did not accept the "1992 Consensus," she acknowledged that the 1992 meeting took place in a positive spirit that should lay the groundwork for sustaining crossstrait peace.
    ...Under international law, the 1992 SEF-ARATS exchanges would not amount to a legally binding agreement on the meaning of "One China" and other sovereignty questions. While SEF and ARATS apparently possessed the capacity to represent their own governments in concluding agreements on cross-strait cooperation, the intention of each organization was to sign legal instruments recording their agreement on the specific matters under negotiation... The parties never evinced an intention to conclude an agreement on sovereignty matters involving the notion of "One China" precisely because they could not reach agreement on the thorny issues involved. Instead, they bypassed the "One China" issues and went on to conclude formal written agreements on technical matters. In other words, the element of intent to create legal obligations on sovereignty questions did not exist. This is evident from the caution of SEF—it carefully avoided committing itself to a written agreement with regard to the all-important political issue and suggested that each side orally state its differing position separately. This poses a contrast with the formal agreements later concluded by the two organizations on various economic and technical matters. None of these cross-strait agreements touched upon the "One China" issue, and all were concluded without regard to it.
  5. "The DPP Administration's Logic and Policy on China". Mainland Affairs Council. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  6. "Talking Points: What Does ROC Law Say About Taiwan?". U.S.-Asia Law Institute. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. MacLeod, Andrew (12 July 2022). "When people say the West should support Taiwan, what exactly do they mean?". The Conversation. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  8. Derek Grossman, Brandon Alexander Millan (25 September 2020). "Taiwanese Presidents Will Not and Can Not Unilaterally Change Taiwan's Status". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. "Taiwan's KMT May Have a Serious '1992 Consensus' Problem". RAND Corporation . 25 September 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2025. ...First, it is hard for the KMT to credibly claim "different interpretations" on the 1992 Consensus. Up until January 2019, Beijing, though it obviously disagreed with the KMT position, generally allowed the party to verbalize its view unchallenged. Both sides benefited from the arrangement. The KMT could uphold the consensus as evidence that it was more responsible than the DPP to broker and keep the peace, while Beijing did not have to worry about Taiwan drifting away toward independence if the KMT kept winning elections. But as China's strength and confidence have continued to increase, especially over the last decade, Beijing has become less willing to allow for ambiguity. In a watershed moment on January 2, 2019, Xi commemorated the 40th anniversary of China's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" by dispensing with the notion that the 1992 Consensus allowed for "different interpretations" of One China. Instead, he equated it exclusively with the "One China Principle." Xi simultaneously emphasized "One Country, Two Systems"—envisioning One China, but with different governments in Beijing and Taipei—as the future cross-Strait political framework. His speech likely caught the KMT off guard as it was forced to immediately disavow One Country, Two Systems.
  10. Wang, Chris (24 August 2011). "Tsai details DPP's cross-strait policies". Taipei Times. p. 1.
  11. 1 2 Shih Hsiu-chuan (22 February 2006). "Su Chi admits the '1992 consensus' was made up". Taipei Times . Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  12. Feng, John. "Taiwan's Pro-China Opposition Suffers Identity Crisis as Chief Admits Beijing Threat". Newsweek . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. "Highlights of Xi's speech at Taiwan message anniversary event". China Daily . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chen, Dean P. (2024). "Xi Jinping and the Derailment of the KMT-CCP "1992 Consensus"". In Fang, Qiang; Li, Xiaobing (eds.). China under Xi Jinping: A New Assessment. Leiden University Press. ISBN   9789087284411.
  15. Cheng, Allen T. "Did He Say 'One China'?". Asiaweek . Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  16. 中華民國第12任總統就職演說全文 (in Chinese). Broadcasting Corporation of China. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  17. "KMT chairman appeals for more cross-Strait economic, cultural exchanges". Xinhua News Agency. 29 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  18. "Taiwan and China in "special relations": Ma". China Post. 4 September 2008. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  19. "Presidential Office defends Ma". Taipei Times. 5 September 2008. Archived from the original on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  20. Hille, Kathrin (3 April 2008). "Hopes rise for Taiwan-China dialogue". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022. According to a US account of the talks, Mr Hu said: It is China's consistent stand that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan should restore consultation and talks on the basis of 'the 1992 consensus', which sees both sides recognise there is only one China, but agree to differ on its definition.
  21. "Chinese, U.S. presidents hold telephone talks on Taiwan, Tibet". Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver. 26 March 2008.
  22. "Press Briefing by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the President's Trip to the NATO Summit". White House Press Office. Business Wire. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. He said that it is China's consistent stand that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan should restore consultation and talks on the basis of the 1992 consensus, which sees both sides recognize there is only one China, but agree to differ on its definitions.
  23. 胡锦涛:在"九二共识"基础上恢复两岸协商谈判 (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  24. "Chinese spokeswoman stresses importance of '1992 consensus' to improving cross-Strait relations". News.xinhuanet.com. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  25. Bush, RIchard C. "What the historic Ma-Xi meeting could mean for cross-Strait relations". Brookings Institution . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  26. Hsu, Stacy. "MAC releases Ma-Xi meeting transcript". Taipei Times . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  27. Romberg, Alan D. "The "1992 Consensus"—Adapting to the Future?" (PDF). Hoover Institution . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  28. "Tsai's inauguration speech 'incomplete test paper': Beijing". Taipei Times . 21 May 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  29. Zhao, Suisheng (2024). "Is Beijing's Long Game on Taiwan about to End? Peaceful Unification, Brinksmanship, and Military Takeover". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003521709. ISBN   9781032861661.
  30. 1 2 Bush, Richard C. (7 January 2019). "8 key things to notice from Xi Jinping's New Year speech on Taiwan". Brookings. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  31. "President Tsai issues statement on China's President Xi's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan"". 2 January 2018.
  32. Chung, Lawrence (5 January 2019). "Taiwan's president open to cross-strait talks, but has some demands". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  33. Liu, Zihao. "Is This the End of the 1992 Consensus?". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  34. Shih, Hsiao-kuang; Xie, Dennis (20 June 2020). "KMT task force unveils four pillars for stable, peaceful cross-strait relations". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  35. Blanchard, Ben; Lee, Yimou. "Taiwan opposition chief in no rush for China meeting". Reuters. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  36. "江啟臣提九二共識立基於憲法 國台辦正告KMT:謀統不能模糊". Liberty Times (in Traditional Chinese). 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  37. Wang, Cheng-chung; Liu, Kuan-ting; Liu, Kay. "KMT vows to 'defend Taiwan, protect democracy, fight for future'". Central News Agency (Taiwan) . Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  38. Chin-yeh, Chiang; Pei-ju, Teng (7 June 2022). "'1992 consensus' key to KMT's engagement with Beijing: Eric Chu". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  39. "Lee denies existence of '1992 Consensus,'" Archived 2005-04-14 at the Wayback Machine The China Post, November 8, 2001
  40. "AIT pans '1992 consensus\' - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 28 February 2006.
  41. Wang, Austin; Wu, Charles K.S.; Yeh, Yao-Yuan; Chen, Fang-Yu. "What Does the 1992 Consensus Mean to Citizens in Taiwan?". The Diplomat . Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  42. 1 2 Wang, Horng-En; Yeh, Yao-Yuan; Wu, Charles K. S.; Chen, Fang-Yu (4 April 2021). "The non-consensus 1992 consensus". Asian Politics & Policy. 13 (2): 212–227. doi:10.1111/aspp.12576. S2CID   233561191.
1992 Consensus
Traditional Chinese 九二共識
Simplified Chinese 九二共识
Literal meaningNine-Two Consensus
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Jiǔ-Èr Gòngshí (in China)
Jiǔ-Èr Gòngshì (in Taiwan)
Wade–Giles Chiu³-Êrh⁴ Kong⁴-shih² (in China)
Chiu³-Êrh⁴ Kong⁴-shih⁴ (in Taiwan)
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping gau2 ji6 gung6 sik1
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ Kiú-jī Kiōng-sek