PDF(2.7mb) - 國家政策研究基金會

150 Taiwan Development Perspectives 2009
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is indeed a pleasure and privilege to speak to
such a distinguished gathering at Chatham House in
London, a think tank of world renown.
You may have noticed that I made a slight change
in the title of my presentation. I will talk about the Foreign
and Cross-Strait Policies of the New Administration
in the Republic of China, not Taiwan.
The semantics is of great importance and relevant
to the topic I am going to discuss today. For purposes
of clarity, I am going to relate to you the historical
background and legal status of Taiwan, the Constitution
of the Republic of China, the changing relationship
across the Taiwan Strait, and then the foreign and
cross-Strait policies of the new administration.
Historical Background and Legal Status of
Taiwan
Taiwan was a part of the Fujian Province under the
Manchu Dynasty and was later made a province. That
was the legal status of Taiwan before it was ceded to
Japan following the first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95,
in the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
The Republic of China, founded in 1912, succeeded
the Manchu Dynasty, not only because of the
Revolution led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, but also because of
the imperial edict to abdicate the throne in favor of the
Republican government. As successor state, the Republic
of China inherited all treaties signed by the Manchus
with foreign powers, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki
and the Treaty of Nanking ceding Hong Kong to
the United Kingdom.
Then came the Japanese invasion of China, starting
as early as l931, with its sweep of Manchuria;
however, only after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in
1937 did the Republic of China organize a full-scale
war of resistance against Japanese aggression, marking
the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. At this
stage, for four years the Republic of China fought alone.
In 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor and invaded American and British colonies in
Asia. The Republic of China followed in the footsteps
of the U.S. and Britain in declaring war on Japan; the
three countries formed an alliance in their war effort.
The Republic of China, in accordance with international
law, declared all treaties signed between China
and Japan, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki, null
and void.
The Cairo Conference took place between the US,
the UK, and the Republic of China in December 1943.
In the Cairo Declaration that ensued, the three Allied
Powers demanded that Japan return all territories stolen
from the Republic of China including Manchuria, Formosa
(Taiwan), and the Pescadores (Penghu). The stipulation
was later repeated in the Potsdam Declaration
of 1945, and accepted by Japan in its Instrument of
Surrender in 1945.
Following Japan’s unconditional surrender in August
1945, the Republic of China government immediately
reclaimed Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores.
Back then, not a single state in the world questioned
Taiwan’s status or objected to Taiwan’s return to
the Republic of China’s jurisdiction.
The Chinese Civil War resumed shortly after,
while thereafter the unfortunate 2/28 Incident occurred
in 1947 in Taiwan. The Republic of China government
relocated from Nanjing to Taipei in 1949 after losing
control of the Mainland to the Chinese Communists. It
was the worst of times for the Republic of China government;
however, Divine Providence did not forsake
the ROC. An epic victory in the Battle of Kuningtou on
Kinmen (Quemoy) Island on October 25, 1949, was a
crucial morale booster.
However, it is undeniable that the Republic of
China was experiencing a Dark Ages on the diplomatic
front at that time. Its plight was evident following the
release of the White Paper by the US State Department
in August 1949. After the People’s Republic of China
was created on October 1, 1949, US President Harry S.