1992 consensus between Beijing and Taipei appears here to stay

When Su Chi, then the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council coined the term "1992 consensus" in 2000 few could have expected it to become the guiding principle for Beijing's own cross-strait policies.

Come the morning of November 8 this year, when the Communist Party kicked off its 18th national congress in Beijing to pave the way for the next leadership, outgoing general secretary President Hu Jintao delivered a lengthy report, part of which touched on the direction of the mainland's cross-strait policy. "The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should uphold the common stance of opposing Taiwanese independence and of following the '1992 consensus'," Hu said in his report.

The tacit understanding reached in 1992 holds that both sides recognise there is only one China, but each can have its own interpretation of what China stands for. Despite the straightforward definition, debate has continued over what the consensus means.

To Beijing, "what China stands for" means the People's Republic of China, and to Taipei, it is the Republic of China, Taiwan's official title.

Soon after Hu's report was delivered, pundits and officials across the Taiwan Strait agreed the consensus would become a policy guideline for the new mainland leadership, which will take office early next year.

It was the first time "1992 consensus" had been featured prominently in one of the party's most important official documents.