Taiwan can suggest how to govern it after unifying with mainland China, PLA strategist says

Name: Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan
Uploaded: 2023-06-16T14:30:14.000Z
Duration: 3 min 50 s
Description: Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan

It’s important that ‘one country, two systems’ work for Taiwan, He Lei, a PLA lieutenant general, says

Taiwan-based analysts say He’s remarks show the wide gap in understanding between Beijing and Taipei; ‘one country, two systems has no market in Taiwan,’ one argues

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Minnie Chan

Published: 10:30pm, 16 Jun 2023Updated: 11:23pm, 16 Jun 2023

Taiwan can propose its own governance ideas after unification with mainland China as long as they do not violate the “one China” principle, according to a mainland military strategist – a suggestion that Taipei-based analysts say shows just how wide the gap in understanding between the two sides has grown.

“What’s important now is to find new solutions for the ‘two systems’ so that ‘one country, two systems’ can work for Taiwan,” He Lei, a lieutenant general in the People’s Liberation Army, said on the sidelines of the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue defence conference in Singapore.

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Mainland China white paper declares ‘greatest sincerity’ for peaceful reunification with Taiwan

He was responding to a question about how Beijing would make unification more palatable for the self-ruled island, and added that “there are wise people in Taiwan who can make their suggestions”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the same proposition four years ago when he chaired an anniversary session in Beijing about reunification with Taiwan, a self-ruled island of 24 million.

Andrew Yang Nien-dzu, a former Taiwanese defence minister, said He’s remarks underscored the chasm of understanding between Beijing and Taipei.

Andrew Yang Nien-dzu, a former Taiwanese defence minister, says “‘one country two systems’ has no market in Taiwan”. Photo: Minnie Chan

“Beijing’s ‘one country, two systems’ formula has no market in Taiwan and Taiwanese people believe this is just a trick by the mainland to destroy the Republic of China government,” Yang said, using Taiwan’s official name.

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