Why join the election battle when the election situation is unfavorable? Cross-strait relations have entered a critical period. As a Taiwanese scholar who has been participating in the process of cross-strait reunification, what theoretical thoughts does Zhang Yazhong have about the future of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait? Observer.com interviewed Zhang Yazhong, a professor of the Department of Politics at Taiwan University and a candidate for the "2020 General Election".
[Interview/Observer Network Xiaoting]
Observer Network: Why choose to announce your candidacy for 2020 at this time?
Zhang Yazhong: This matter can be viewed in two aspects, one is long-term and the other is short-term. From a long-term perspective, I have been concerned about Taiwan and cross-strait issues for a long time, and everyone should be very clear about it. Over the past 20 years, I have always participated in major political issues in Taiwan. In 1996, I participated in the election of Chen Lu'an, a candidate for the "general election" in Taiwan, and became the convener of the policy department, fighting the first "presidential" election in Taiwan. In 2004, I participated in the anti-arms purchase movement, in 2005, in the "anti-constitutional amendment", in 2006, and in 2007, I opposed Chen Shui-bian's "referendum to join the United Nations". After Ma Ying-jeou came to power in 2008, I organized many large-scale cross-strait meetings through the Cross-Strait Integration Society to promote the development of cross-strait relations. After 2012, I participated in the so-called fine-tuning of the so-called history textbook syllabus. At the same time, I also filmed documentaries, published textbooks, and run Sun Yat-sen schools to promote cross-strait recognition. In 2016, he assisted Hung Hsiu-chu in running for the election.
From my resume, you can see that I have been dedicating to Taiwan along the way. Why do you do this for a long time? Because since 1990, I think Taiwan, including the Kuomintang and the "Republic of China", has had some problems in terms of value. For example, in terms of identity, some Taiwanese people have already believed that "I am a Taiwanese, not a Chinese anymore." In cross-strait relations, the DPP must follow the "Taiwan independence" line, and the Kuomintang must follow the "Taiwan independence" line. As a scholar, I have seen this trend very early. In other visits, I also mentioned that all my ideological systems have been formed in about 40 years old, so after I was 40 years old, I have been committed to changing Taiwan and changing the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. It can also be said that I am going a little bit earlier. This is in a relatively long-term perspective. I have never given up changing Taiwan or cross-strait relations. So my campaign spindle this time is called "Reset", which means we have to shut down and start over.
From a short-term perspective, after Tsai Ing-wen came to power, cross-strait relations became very sluggish. The DPP took the "Taiwan independence" line, and the Kuomintang took the "Taiwan independence" line. Moreover, the two routes are slowly converging, and the mainland's patience is gradually decreasing. Therefore, this time the mainland held a commemorative meeting for the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan", and General Secretary Xi once again proposed "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems", but both the Kuomintang and the DPP expressed their willingness to continue to oppose "one country, two systems". So you can see that there is almost no ability between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to solve this problem. I have done a lot of in-depth research on cross-strait issues and many internal issues in Taiwan for a long time. The biggest difference between me and the so-called "candidates" is that they only put forward political opinions after elections, and I am fully prepared in terms of policy concepts. I am willing to put forward my views. I hope to obtain a larger political platform through my election campaign, so that more people can hear my ideas and voice, change Taiwan and inject new vitality into cross-strait relations.
So from these two aspects, this election is not an unexpected thing for me. I want to finish this matter and make it happen.
Observer Network: You mentioned in the interview that you already have more than 100 political views. What are the core propositions for this election?
Zhang Yazhong: To participate in the election, of course, the most important thing is that you must propose a direction for Taiwan's development, just like a person's body, both bones, flesh and blood, and soul, and neither is missing.
I will put forward some opinions on Taiwan's system. For example, what kind of modifications should we make to Taiwan’s “constitutional” system? You see, Lai Ching-te resigned again today. Under Taiwan’s current “presidential system”, the “president” has the right or no responsibility. Since 2000, Taiwan has replaced 14 "deans" with one new "dean" a year and a half, and the "minister" has been replaced more frequently. What can I do in this case? Therefore, in terms of "constitutionalism", I proposed that Taiwan should move from "presidential system" to "cabinet system".
In terms of cross-strait relations, I proposed that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should establish a framework for peaceful development and end the state of hostility. This is at the structural level, and of course there are many other aspects. I advocate that sovereignty is shared by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and that governance is for everyone to respect each other temporarily.
In terms of value, I have proposed five more important values: peace, openness, co-governance, equal wealth, and virtue. My hundreds of political views are brought into play under these five values.
Observer.com: Can you tell me specifically about the five values you proposed?
Zhang Yazhong: Peace. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are still hostile today, but the DPP’s “Taiwan independence” cannot be peaceful. The Kuomintang is taking the initiative to maintain the status quo, that is, maintain the current hostile situation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and does not pursue peace. Therefore, peace should be a value we must pursue.
But now the Kuomintang and the DPP are not willing to end the hostilities. What the mainland is talking about is the political arrangements after unification. I hope to communicate with the mainland, the Kuomintang and the DPP. What kind of political relationship should we have before peaceful reunification? If this problem is not solved, there is actually no way to deal with many complex problems.
is open. As a small island, Taiwan is a bit ugly. Is it okay to not open? Taiwan must be open and cross-strait relations must maintain good relations. If you remain hostile to the mainland like Tsai Ing-wen, it is impossible to completely open Taiwan. Only after Taiwan and the mainland sign a peace agreement, Taiwan is a completely peaceful region and can open up, and funds and outstanding talents from all over the world feel at ease to regard Taiwan as a base.
If cross-strait relations are in this state of hostility, Taiwan's politics is unstable. How can Taiwan open up? Any open area must be a peaceful area before it can be open. If you don’t resolve your internal disputes, you will not be able to open up.
In other words, openness depends on two concepts, one is the external environment and the other is the internal thinking. We must first turn the external environment into a peaceful environment before we can open up. At the same time, we must have an open mind. For example, if a mainland friend comes to Taiwan and gives him reasonable treatment, he can try his best to do so. We should at least treat friends from the mainland and friends from all over the world at the same time, and we should not treat differently.
co-governance. May I ask, in a modern society, should government officials work with the people to govern this society? Including cross-strait relations, the South China Sea issue and the Diaoyu Islands issue, should we jointly manage it? We should not say "each expresses it separately" and do not enjoy the property of the Chinese nation alone. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should move towards the concept of co-governance.
is rich. The inequality of the rich and the poor is a problem that has arisen in all countries around the world. "Every" belongs to socialism, emphasizing fairness and justice, and "rich" belongs to capitalism, emphasizing making money. We Chinese say "Don't worry about lack of people but not equality" and "you know etiquette when you have enough granaries". "Equal wealth" is a very important virtue in our Chinese culture.
virtues. Chinese culture emphasizes etiquette, righteousness, integrity and shame the most, but in recent years, some unknown values have emerged in Taiwan, and have forgotten the virtues in our Chinese culture.
So I take these five points as the core values of my campaign today, and I even think the entire Chinese nation needs these five values. Look at Deng Xiaoping's four words "reform and opening up" brought 40 years of prosperity to the mainland.So a good value is really important. This time I "run for election" was not just about putting forward some humble or very technical policies, but behind each policy, it carries my value, concept, and choice. This is the difference between me and all "candidates".
Frankly speaking, other candidates of the Kuomintang will not do my propositions. The DPP's direction is now biased and it is difficult to turn back. At such a critical moment when cross-strait relations develop, I think my run is very meaningful. It can correct some misunderstandings in Taiwan's systems and thinking, provide a relatively correct thinking to the people of Taiwan, and also bring a new choice to the people of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
On January 2, the commemoration meeting for the 40th anniversary of the publication of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" was grandly held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the commemorative meeting and delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Tao
Observer Network: On January 2, the mainland held a commemorative meeting for the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan", and General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward five propositions on relations with Taiwan. The "two systems" Taiwan plan mentioned in it has aroused a lot of discussions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. What do you think the "two systems" Taiwan plan should include?
Zhang Yazhong: A big problem is that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must be discussed. I think General Secretary Xi’s speech gave a message, that is, it can be discussed. He also talked about a concept, "Chinese people don't fight China." In other words, as long as both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese, there should not be war. In this case, why can’t you sit down and talk? Can we come and discuss how to go before peaceful reunification? After peaceful reunification, you have your opinion, it doesn’t matter that I respect you. The question is how to end the hostilities between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait now? Just like you and your neighbor have been arguing for 70 years, but your child is very close to him now. You two families are starting to reconcile and should first lift the hostility. This is a methodological issue. It is impossible for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to jump from hostility to unification.
I believe that all compatriots in the mainland believe that "one country, two systems" is already a kindness, but the Taiwanese people may not interpret this way, so I think from a methodological point of view, our top priority today is to live in the present, first lift the hostility between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and then move down naturally and smoothly. This is a gradual process. Just like human growth, it is impossible to jump from a baby to 30 years old. This is not gradual, but to encourage growth of seedlings, and there will definitely be side effects.
For example, the mainland has been talking about "peaceful reunification" for 40 years, and there is no problem, but there is a problem that has not been solved in the past 40 years. What is the relationship with the past? Why do you tell me this? Today, when the Taiwanese leader came to power, he followed this sentence and said, "The mainland is not friendly to me, but the mainland said this 40 years ago. How could he be unfriendly to you?" But this thing has been hyped, which is also a question that mainland decision-making units need to think about. Why is "one country, two systems" being hyped?
We pursue unity. No matter what form of unity it is, it should ultimately be a happy unity. If everyone moves happily, is it the direction that our Chinese nation pursues? If someone tells me that Teacher Zhang, your method before peaceful reunification is not good, and I have a better method, then please come up with it and let’s discuss it together. I'm not saying that my method is the best, but we can always sit down and discuss it to see if Taiwan will accept it and the mainland will accept it.
Observer.com: But the problem now is that even if the mainland wants to talk to, he doesn’t know who to talk to.
Zhang Yazhong: Today, the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan will not talk to the mainland, the Kuomintang does not want to talk, and the United States behind it does not want to talk.Moreover, the Kuomintang doesn’t know how to talk about it. Everything is a matter of knowledge. The Kuomintang does not have such a theoretical basis. Do you think that a Kuomintang scholar can propose a solution or discussion to solve the cross-strait problem today? Anyone who knows me doesn’t have to doubt me today. I didn’t talk about this because I was going to come out for elections. I have been talking about this for so long. Whether in the mainland, in Taiwan, or in the United States, I talk about the same thing because this is my methodology and my theoretical support is behind it. Not only did I speak, I also wrote more than twenty books, and the words in black and white can stand the test.
In my campaign statement, I said that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are brothers, so what are the problems that cannot be discussed between brothers? Therefore, I advocate political dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, discuss the end of the state of hostility, and outline the future peace framework for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. We Chinese often say that it will be natural, but it may also be that the water has arrived and the canal has not been repaired yet. So before the water arrives, we must first repair the canal. "One country, two systems" is the channel after unification proposed by the mainland, but I want to establish a channel before unification, that is, the "harmony" between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. First pass through the channel of "harmony", sign a peace agreement, and then enter the channel of "unification", from "dividing and governance" to "co-governance", and finally flow into the channel of unification naturally.
After the signing of the peace agreement, at this stage of "harmony", we will discuss "one country, two systems" as a channel after reunification, so I prefer to propose a channel for ending hostility between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait before peaceful reunification. This is also my research over the past few decades, including after communicating with mainland scholars, and I have also received some positive responses. In the past, I was just a right to suggest, and I hope to obtain decision-making power. If I can be elected, I can immediately start political dialogue, end the state of hostility, and discuss the signing of a peace agreement. This will be a very important historical process for the Chinese nation.
Observer Network: You have criticized the Ma Ying-jeou government for missing out on opportunities. Do you think it is time to talk about unification now?
Zhang Yazhong: unification includes three stages before unification, unified process and post-unification. Now we have not even solved the problem before unification. In my opinion, one country, two systems do not mean complete unification, but only the beginning of unification. The true complete unification is one country, one system. So in other words, are we pursuing the result of unity or the beginning of unity? If the two sides of the Taiwan Strait start to talk about unification immediately, this obstacle will definitely be very big. Therefore, we must make good designs before unification and slowly move towards unification.
"One Country, Two Systems" was first practiced in Hong Kong. The background of the times was that in 1997, the mainland had to take back Hong Kong. There was pressure on time, and the economic development of the mainland was not as good as that of Hong Kong at that time, but today it is different. Now the mainland is developing so well that it can no longer be compared with the original one. If Deng Xiaoping is still there today, or if I meet him in my dream, I must ask if peaceful reunification is important or one country, two systems are important? Of course he would say that peaceful reunification is important. So we should not use literature to harm meaning. Many things are either black or white. China has 5,000 years of civilization, and we should have the wisdom to solve this problem.
Observer Network: You proposed the "one China and the same table" based on the "1992 Consensus". What do you think about the relationship between your proposition and the "two systems" Taiwan plan proposed by General Secretary Xi?
Zhang Yazhong: "One Chinese and the same table" is the simplest explanation of "one Chinese and the same table" is that if we want to solve the issue of peace, do we need to express it together? General Secretary Xi said that we can explore the Taiwan plan of "two systems". No problem, so everyone sat down to discuss. As for how to talk, it would be a vast sky. Mainland said that everything is easy to talk about under the principle of "one middle school", but what does the principle of "one middle school" mean? Since we are all a family, should we use father-son relationship or brother-in-law relationship? The mainland is so large and Taiwan is so small, so I advocate that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should not fight for such things anymore. For a family, it is not a master-slave relationship, but a joint ownership of this family.
1993 Wang and Gu talks
Observer Network: After the commemorative meeting, both the DPP and the Kuomintang responded to President Xi’s speech.But unlike the friendly signals sent by the mainland, the responses of the DPP and the Kuomintang still hinder cross-strait exchanges. How do you think in the current situation, how should cross-strait relations be promoted?
Zhang Yazhong: This is very difficult and it is also my most difficult challenge. Let me give you an example. One is "Taiwan independence" and the other is "Taiwan independence". Then the mainland talks about unification with Taiwan. The more the mainland talks about unification, the more Taiwan rebounds, and the more Taiwan rebounds, the more the mainland talks about unification, and in the end, it only makes everyone very angry.
I am in the middle, I don’t like the left, and I don’t like the right. Taiwan said I was just a united faction and betrayed Taiwan. The mainland said, "Look, after a long time, you are still unwilling to accept "one country, two systems". But we can't just keep arguing like this, so today's appearance is actually a dawn for cross-strait relations. Regardless of whether I can win or not, I want my voice to be carried forward in Taiwan. I am different from the DPP, the Kuomintang, and the Union Promotion Party. I don’t seem to have chosen a sideline for the three political parties. But from another perspective, my plan is the most considering the interests of all aspects. In the past, a very important scholar from Tsinghua University in mainland China told me that I am cheering for Asia and China. Your plan is to win the best interests for Taiwan and is also the lowest bottom line for Beijing to make concessions.
Observer.com: Do you have any expectations for the final result?
Zhang Yazhong: Buddhism talks about cause and effect. As long as our cause is a good cause, the result will be a good result. One thing may not be successful if you work hard, but the good causes you sow will definitely get good results. So as long as I speak like this and let more people hear it, I will definitely get good results in the future. I am not encouraging confrontation and opposition between the two sides. I have my humanistic feelings. I will not care less for the Chinese nation than anyone else. I hope that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great rejuvenation of happiness and everyone holding hands. I hope that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great rejuvenation of happiness and everyone holding hands. Unification is not completed under the threat of force or force, but is jointly created by the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan must not become another Lebanon or Afghanistan under the manipulation of the United States, which will be of no benefit to anyone. I believe that Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should have the wisdom to find solutions. I personally have proposed a very specific and operational plan, and I also hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can propose a peace plan to end the state of hostility between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, be brave enough to start cross-strait political dialogue, and work together for the peaceful development of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
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