Taiwan is a sacred and inseparable part of China’s territory. Owing to reasons known to all, Taiwan has since 1949 been separated from the mainland. To bring about the complete reunification of   China is the common aspiration of all the Chinese, both in the country and overseas. The Communist Party of  China and the Chinese government take the completion of the grand cause of   China’s peaceful reunification as their historical mission and have made protracted efforts towards this end.

The Chinese government advanced the proposal of peaceful reunification back in the 1950s. In May, 1955, Premier Zhou Enlai stated that “the Chinese people are willing, when conditions permit, to strive to liberate Taiwan  by peaceful means.” In May, 1960, Chairman Mao said that provided Taiwan is returned to the motherland, with the exception of foreign affairs which must be handled by  the  national authorities, all the military and political power and the power of   appointing officials  may be delegated to the Taiwan authorities. This is the origin of the concept of “one country, two systems”. In January, 1979, Deng Xiaoping advanced the concept of  “one country, two systems” and stated that “so long as Taiwan returns to the embrace of the motherland, we will respect the realities and the existing system there.” On September 30, 1981, Ye Jianying, Chairman of the Standing Committee of  China’s National People’s Congress, officially put forward a nine-point proposal  for bringing about the peaceful reunification  of the mainland and Taiwan. He said that “after  China is reunified, Taiwan may  become a special administrative region. It may  enjoy a high degree of autonomy and may keep its military forces. The  national government will not intervene in the local affairs of Taiwan.” “Taiwan’s current social and economic systems will remain unchanged, its way of life will not change, and its economic and cultural ties with foreign countries will not change.’ A provision on setting up special administrative region was added to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of  China passed at the Fifth Session of the National People’s Congress in 1982,  providing legal basis for accomplishing  “one country, two systems”. On January 30, 1995, President Jiang Zemin delivered an important speech entitled Continue to Strive to Complete the Grand Cause of  China’s Reunification.  In the speech,  he elaborated the concept of  “one country, two systems” and made an eight-point proposal for improving the across strait relations during the current stage and accelerating the process of  China’s peaceful reunification.

Deng Xiaoping’s scientific concept of  “one country, two systems” was advanced in light of Taiwan’s realities. It both upholds  China’s state sovereignty and takes into full account the specific conditions of Taiwan. According to the concept of  “one country, two systems”, two systems will be practiced within the sovereign state of the People’s Republic of  China. On the premise of one  China, the main body of the country will  practice the socialist system, while the existing capitalist system and way of life in Taiwan will remain unchanged for a long period of time. This concept is highly flexible in that it  both gives full expression to the principle of bringing about  China’s reunification and upholding its sovereignty and  takes into full consideration the history and realities of Taiwan. To practice  “one country, two systems” will facilitate the reunification of  China,  the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and peace and development in the world. The concept  has  been warmly  received by the Chinese people  both in  China and overseas and by the world public opinion. Guided by the basic guideline of  “one country, two systems” and related policies, major progress has been made in the across strait relations. The across strait exchanges in personnel, scientific, cultural and sports fields have maintained a strong momentum, and the across strait economic exchange has greatly benefited both sides. All this shows the strong vitality of the concept of  “one country, two systems”. Taiwan’s future lies in its reunification with the motherland, and attempt to split  China will never be accepted as an alternative. Li Denghui and a small number of people in Taiwan who betray the principle of one  China and  advocate the creation of “two  Chinas” or  “one  China, one Taiwan” in an attempt to split  China  are doomed to failure as they will surely run into the firm opposition of the entire Chinese people including the people of Taiwan. To accomplish China’s reunification is the trend of the time and common aspiration of the entire Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait. With the joint efforts of the entire Chinese people including the compatriots in Taiwan, the day will certainly come when  China is reunified.