Taiwan's Ruling Party Endorses Policy Shift towards Two-State Solution

Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party has formalized a policy shift, defining its relationship with China as that between two separate states. This move, expected to intensify China's fury, asserts Taiwan's sovereignty and may pressure its National Assembly to amend the constitution. The policy statement, adopted at the KMT's biennial congress, marks a significant departure from the party's founding mission of unifying China. China, viewing Taiwan as a renegade province, has long threatened to use force to reunify the island.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kuomintang (KMT) party has formally endorsed a policy shift defining its relationship with China as that between two separate states.
• The policy statement, adopted at the KMT's biennial congress, is expected to intensify China's fury, which views Taiwan as a renegade province.
• The move denies Beijing the comforting propaganda that Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui does not represent the mainstream opinion of his party.
• The policy shift may pressure Taiwan's National Assembly to amend the constitution to reflect the KMT's policy statement.
• Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan's president, will retain the powerful position of party chairman until 2002.
• The KMT unanimously passed the nomination of Lien Chan and Vincent Siew as candidates for presidential elections in March.

Statistics:

• The Kuomintang party has been in existence for 70 years.
• The KMT's policy statement marks a significant departure from the party's founding mission of unifying China.
• China has threatened to use force to reunify Taiwan, a threat that is not idle rhetoric, according to senior Chinese military officials.
• The KMT's policy shift may lead to increased tensions between China and Taiwan, potentially leading to a renewed threat of military force.

Sources:

Financial Times Limited, 1999, "Taiwan's Ruling Party Endorses Policy Shift towards Two-State Solution"