Lesson 14: Cross-Straits Interaction

Advancing the Great Cause of Motherland Reunification

After the founding of New China, the Party and the government made it a sacred mission to realize the reunification of Taiwan with the motherland and clearly proposed the liberation of Taiwan. in the mid-1950s, the idea of striving for the peaceful liberation of Taiwan was also established. Mao Zedong said, "We are all Chinese. Of the 36 plans, peace is the best plan." After the reform and opening up, the Party and the government established the general policy of peaceful reunification of the motherland. Soon, on the basis of Deng Xiaoping's scientific concept of "one country, two systems", the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" was formed for Taiwan, and a series of measures were taken to ease cross-strait relations and promote the unification of the motherland.

Starting in 1979, the Chinese People's Liberation Army was ordered to stop shelling Kinmen and Matsu. The Central People's Government initiated the direct implementation of postal, air and business links across the Strait, and welcomed Taiwan compatriots to visit relatives, travel, study and do business on the mainland. The situation on both sides of the Strait gradually moved toward détente.

In 1987, the Taiwan authorities were forced to adjust the "three no's" policy, opening up Taiwan residents to visit their relatives on the mainland, and gradually taking some opening measures in economic and cultural exchanges. The nearly 40-year isolation of compatriots on both sides of the Strait was finally broken, and historic changes occurred in cross-strait relations.

As cross-strait exchanges became closer, the Straits Exchange Foundation was established in Taiwan in 1990, and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits was established in the following year in the motherland. In 1992, the two associations reached a consensus that each would verbally state that "both sides of the Strait adhere to the one-China principle", which is the "1992 Consensus". In January 1995, Jiang Zemin, in response to the new situation of cross-strait relations, put forward eight propositions for developing cross-strait relations and promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

In 2005, the Chairman of the Kuomintang, Lien Chan, led a "Peace Tour" delegation to visit mainland China. Hu Jintao met with Lien's delegation. Both sides reaffirmed their adherence to the 1992 Consensus, their opposition to Taiwan independence, and their advocacy of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The meeting between the top leaders of the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of China promotes the new development of cross-strait relations.

Increasingly Close Relations

Under the guidance of the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," and through the joint efforts of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao, and overseas compatriots, cross-strait exchanges have flourished in the areas of people, economy, and culture. Subsequently, both sides of the Taiwan Strait held the "Three Direct Links" launching ceremony at the same time, making historic progress in cross-strait relations.

（500words）