Plenum includes Taiwan in governance

Focusing on the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee also highlighted the importance of Taiwan’s reunification with the motherland.

National reunification is crucial for national rejuvenation, a process which is already underway, as evident from the national development plan that points the direction of peaceful reunification. In fact, national reunification, high-quality development and modern governance are the three prerequisites for national rejuvenation.

In the new era, the Chinese mainland stands out in terms of governance system and nation building, and is committed to national rejuvenation.

In contrast, the Tsai Ing-wen administration in Taiwan and the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party are increasingly reducing cross-Straits exchanges despite the rising protests against such moves on the island. Instead of heeding the call of Taiwan residents, the Tsai administration is busy trying to prove that the months-long unrest in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shows the failure of “one country, two systems”.

Obviously, by smearing “one country, two systems” — which is the institutional arrangement set for Taiwan after reunification — the Tsai administration is opposing peaceful reunification.

Yet as one of the strongest supporters of multilateralism and a fair global governance system, the Chinese mainland with its effective national governance system has been strongly advocating a peaceful and stable world order. It has also been avidly participating in efforts to meet the challenges faced by the international community.

As such, even in the face of the trade war launched by the United States, the violent protests in Hong Kong, and separatist activities in Taiwan, Beijing continues to improve the national governance system and governance capacity so it can defuse the crisis, meet the challenge, realize national reunification and make history.

Although the Fourth Plenary Session’s decision uses only one paragraph especially in reference to Taiwan, its content is quite rich. First, the plenum once again emphasized that the realization of national reunification is an irreversible historical trend and meets the core interest of the Chinese nation.

Second, it proposed to work out a crossStraits arrangement to propel peaceful reunification along with the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.

And third, it said that in the face of the ruling DPP pushing for “Taiwan independence”, the mainland should implement appropriate measures to boost cross-Straits exchanges. It also said that since the DPP is trying to divide compatriots across the Straits, Beijing should take all measures and precautions to ensure the integrated crossStraits development plan proposed by the mainland is not interrupted, because it will play a critical part in ending political confrontation and improving relations between the two sides.

Besides, given the poor governance record of the Tsai administration, the mainland should push forward preferential policies including the “26 measures” announced on Nov 4 in addition to the “31 measures” introduced last year, in order to ensure Taiwan compatriots receive equal treatment as well as to share the fruits of the mainland’s development. Which would prompt them to oppose the separatists and promote national reunification.

The plenum provided the administrative arrangement for Taiwan after its reunification with the motherland: Under the premise of ensuring State sovereignty, security and interests, the motherland will give full respect to the social system and lifestyle of Taiwan residents, and well safeguard their private property, religious belief and legal rights.

By so doing, the plenum drew a blueprint for combining reunification, governance and development, with special emphasis on the Taiwan question and advancing the peaceful reunification process.

The author is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Beijing Union University. The views don’t necessarily represent those of China Daily.

In fact, national reunification, high-quality development and modern governance are the three prerequisites for national rejuvenation.