TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The minister of Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) urged China to halt its pressure on Taiwan and called for equal exchanges between the two sides on Friday (Jan. 3). MAC Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) emphasized that peaceful and stable cross-strait relations serve the common interests of both parties.
Chiu highlighted that since 2016, China has unilaterally suspended official interactions with Taiwan, using the "1992 Consensus" (九二共識) as a political precondition. He stressed that Taiwan remains open to communication and dialogue. According to Chiu, the core issue lies in China's refusal to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China (ROC, 中華民國) and the Taiwanese people's commitment to democracy and freedom.
Criticizing Chinese President Xi Jinping's (習近平) 2019 redefinition of the "1992 Consensus," Chiu accused Xi of forcing the ROC government to interact as a local government, undermining Taiwan's sovereign status. Chiu described the past "1992 Consensus" as a vague strategic package and firmly rejected any consensus that did not allow space for the ROC's existence.
