People’s Republic and Republic of China

Since 1912, we have had two Chinas – the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China, better known as Taiwan. But it was a civil war in 1949 that initiated the separation. There was a body organized to settle the dispute between the two Chinas – the National Unification Council. We were hoping that it would succeed in finding a solution to the question of deciding whether the two Chinas should only be one. Now, the National Unification Council will cease to function because no budget has been earmarked for it and all its personnel will return to their original posts in both Chinas.

The Taiwan government claims that they have extended more than 40 olive branches of peace to the People’s Republic, but the People’s Republic has not renounced its "one China" policy and still considers Taiwan as a province of China. They claim that the People’s Republic is increasing its ballistic missiles deployment targeting Taiwan and threatening its 23 million people along its southeast coast. It had only 300 in 2001 and now, it is more than 800. Again, according to Taiwan authorities, the People’s Republic is preparing a three-stage preparation for war against Taiwan with the following goals as their objectives: first, establish a contingency-response combat group by next year; second, build-up a large scale combat army for large scale invasion by 2010; third and lastly, ensure a decisive victory by 2015. In answer, President Chen Shui-bian has reiterated that both sides should sit down and talk on equal-footing and dignity about a realistic and just settlement of the question.

The situation confronting the two Chinas reminds us of a story we heard about an American and a Chinese.

"In America, we have two programs – short and long term. The short term is one year; the long is five."

"We have the same thing in China," the Chinese answered.

"How long is each program?"

"The short term is also one year. The long term is 500 years."

"What does it take to get there?"

"Patience," the Chinese said.

That is what it will take for both Chinas to resolve their current problem. The important thing is that it be settled peacefully and justly. It must be a win-win solution.

The Philippines has good relations with both Chinas. Most Filipinos do not make a distinction between Taiwan Chinese and mainland Chinese. We had relations with both from the earliest times in our history. We hope and pray that they get to peacefully reconcile their differences.