The "Consensus of 1992" (Chinese:九二共識; literally, "92 Consensus") describes an agreement, alledgely reached by semi-official representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC), to adhere to the "one China" principle, but agreeing to disagree on the meaning of "one China." The content and the existence of this consensus is widely disputed across the Taiwan strait and among the residents of Taiwan.
Wang-Koo talks
The so-called "1992 consensus" resulted from a November 1992 meeting in Hong Kong between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). These semi-official bodies were authorized by their respective governments to negotiate solutions to practical problems that had arisen from growing cross-strait commerce. The conclusion they reached was intended as a means of side-stepping the conflict over the political status of Taiwan.
As a result of the 1992 meeting, ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan and SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu met in Singapore on April 27, 1993 in what became known as the "Wang-Koo talks." They concluded agreements on document authentication, postal transfers, and a schedule for future ARATS-SEF meetings.
Talks were delayed as tensions rose in the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, but in October 1998 a second round of "Wang-Koo talks" were held in Shanghai. Wang and Koo agreed to meet again in Taiwan in the autumn of 1999, but the meeting was called off by the mainland side when President Lee Teng-hui proposed his "two-states theory " whereby each side would treat the other as separate state. PRC officials have indicated that this position is unacceptable, and talks have not occurred since.
Dispute over the "1992 Consensus"
Both Hsu Huei-yu and Koo Chen-fu, who participated in the 1992 meeting as SEF delegates, have publicly affirmed that the meeting did not result in any consensus on the "one China" issue. Instead, they claim, both sides agreed to proceed with future meetings on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Koo stated in his biography that, "Both sides across the strait have different interpretations of the 1992 Hong Kong meeting. Rather than using 'consensus,' the term of art should be 'understanding' or 'accord' to better reflect the fact, thus avoiding untruthful application."
The Chief of the ROC Mainland Affairs Council also indicated that no consensus was reached as a result of the 1992 meeting and that the term "Consensus of 1992" was only introduced by the mass media in 1995. Some Taiwan independence supporters, such as former President Lee Teng-hui, point to a lack of documentation to argue that the consensus never existed.
Since the breakdown of talks there have been numerous proposals, mainly from the PRC and the Pan-Blue Coalition, to resume negotiations under the "1992 Consensus." Yet there is still disagreement over the nature of this "consensus." Mainland and Pan-Blue politicians claim there was basic agreement on the "one China" principle, with each side holding its own interpretation of "one China." Pan-Green politicians, however, insist that the 1992 meeting only produced a mutual understanding that included no agreement on the "one China" issue.
The "1992 Consensus" in recent cross-strait relations
In a speech on October 10, 2004, President Chen Shui-bian expressed his willingness in initiate dialogue with PRC leaders on "the basis of the 1992 meeting in Hong Kong." PRC officials, however, have made explicit acceptance of the "1992 consensus," in which PRC perceives a recognition of the "one China" principle, a prerequisite for any official interaction across the Taiwan strait. President Chen has rejected any recognition of the "one China" principle on the grounds that it would imply the PRC is the "one China" with Taiwan part of that China. The Pan-Blue Coalition has responded more positively to the prospect of resuming dialogue under the "1992 Consensus," perceiving this consensus to include the concept of "one China, different interpretations."
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