TAIPEI CITY GOVERNMENT: Cross-strait relations should not be rash: Ko

By Abraham Gerber  /  Staff reporter

Tue, Feb 10, 2015 - Page 3

Cross-strait relations should not be handled rashly, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said on Sunday evening in response to an editorial from China’s official press agency criticizing his “two countries, one system” suggestion.

“Sometimes people will say something to see what will happen,” Ko said, referring to the editorial. “I agree that cross-strait ties should not be handled rashly.”

A Xinhua news agency editorial last week condemned the “two countries, one system” formulation that Ko told the US magazine Foreign Policy should be used in lieu of the “one country, two systems” that China uses.

Reiterating China’s position that relations with Taiwan are not “country to country” ties, the editorial criticized Ko for making “irresponsible remarks” and called his formula a continuation of the “special state-to-state” and “one country on each side” models put forth by former presidents Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

The Xinhua editorial said that Ko’s statements had “set back” cross-strait relations, and “set up obstacles” for exchanges between Taipei and Shanghai.

Ko on Sunday used the phrase “cross-national” to refer to ties between China and Taiwan before quickly correcting himself, stating that cross-strait relations were a “serious” matter.

He said that cross-strait relations should continue to move forward on their existing foundation, avoiding “labeling,” and expanding ties to build trust, while reiterating his belief that the Taipei-Shanghai forum should be expanded to encompass more cities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

He had earlier said that the emphasis of his “two countries one system” formulation was on “one system” not “two countries,” with “one system” referring to universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law.

Ma Ming-chun (馬明君), a Taipei City Government’s Research, Development and Evaluation Commission official responsible for coordinating the forum said that Taipei has yet to contact Shanghai to discuss this year’s event.