Session 3:
The Taiwan Independence Movement in Global Context


The Shanghai Communique, 1972
11. The two sides reviewed the long-standing serious disputes between China and the United States.
The Chinese side reaffirmed its position: the Taiwan question is the crucial question obstructing
the normalization of relations between China and the United States; the Government of the People's
Republic of China is the sole legal government of China; Taiwan is a province of China which has
long been returned to the motherland; the liberation of Taiwan is China's internal affair in which
no other country has the right to interfere; and all U.S. forces and military installations must be
withdrawn from Taiwan. The Chinese Government firmly opposes any activities which aim at the
creation of "one China, one Taiwan", "one China, two governments", "two Chinas", an "independent
Taiwan" or advocate that "the status of Taiwan remains to be determined".
12. The U.S. side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the
Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States
Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of
the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate
objective of the withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the
meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the
tension in the area diminishes. The two sides agreed that it is desirable to broaden the
understanding between the two peoples. To this end, they discussed specific areas in such fields as
science, technology, culture, sports and journalism, in which people-to-people contacts and
exchanges would be mutually beneficial. Each side undertakes to facilitate the further development
of such contacts and exchanges.




[USEMAP]
The Second Communiqué, January 1, 1972


The Taiwan Relations Act
(enacted by U.S. Congress, April 1979)





Shih Ming-te
Peng Ming-min





taiwanmap.jpg



Mao Zedong on Taiwan, 1936
Edgar Snow: “Is it the immediate task of the Chinese people to regain all the territories lost to
Japanese imperialism, or to only drive Japan from North China, and all Chinese territory beyond the
Great Wall?”
Mao: “It is the immediate task of China to regain all our lost territories, not merely to defend
our sovereignty south of the Great Wall. This means that Manchuria must be regained. We do not,
however, include Korea, formerly a Chinese colony, but when we have reestablished the independence
of the lost territories of China, and if the Koreans wish to break away from the chains of Japanese
imperialism, we will extend them our enthusiastic help in their struggle for independence. The same
thing applies for Taiwan.”




Deng Xiaoping on Taiwan, 1979
“Our great motherland belongs to us and to you. The reunification of the motherland is the sacred
mission history has handed to our generation. Times are moving ahead and the situation is
developing. The earlier we fulfill this mission, the sooner we can jointly write an unprecedented,
brilliant page in the history for our country, catch up with advanced powers and work together with
them for world peace, prosperity and progress. Let us join hands and work together for this
glorious goal!”

Jiang Zemin’s Eight Points on Taiwan, 1995



Hu Jintao’s Six Points on Taiwan, 2008
1)firm adherence to the 'one China' principle
2)strengthening commercial ties, including negotiating an economic cooperation agreement
3)promoting personnel exchanges
4)stressing common cultural links between the two sides
5)allowing Taiwan's 'reasonable' participation in global organizations
6) negotiating a peace agreement




The Third Communiqué, 1982
The Six Assurances to Taiwan, 1982





The PRC-Japan Joint Communiqué, 1972