The Chinese Communists have always wanted to solve the Taiwan problem by force, but have been unable to do so because of the Republic of China's strong military defense and its international support. When they established diplomatic relations with the United States on January 1, 1979, they changed their rhetoric but not their intentions. "The liberation of Taiwan" became "the return of Taiwan to the motherland," and instead of referring explicitly to the use of armed force, they stated that "the method of achieving national unification is completely an internal affair of China" —armed force may be used in an "internal affair" of course.

Because the Communists were unwilling to relinquish the use of military force, the U.S. stated when it established diplomatic relations with them that it would continue to sell arms to the ROC To show the U.S. that their intentions were peaceful and pressure the U.S. into halting sales of defensive weapons to the ROC, the Communists proposed their so-called "nine-point proposal for peaceful reunification" on September 30, 1981. According to this proposal, Taiwan could have a different social and economic system from the mainland's, but not a different political system. With this proposal, the Communists' "one country two systems" formula gradually began to take shape.

The Communists used this reunification plan to make the Americans think that their intentions toward Taiwan were peaceful. And on August 17, 1982, the U.S. promised to gradually reduce military sales to Taiwan and not to increase them in quality.

In January 1984, Teng Hsiao-p'ing stated: "After reunification, Taiwan can practice its capitalism and the mainland socialism. There will be one China with two systems, and neither side will hurt the other." And that May, Chao Tzu-yang told the National People's Congress: "Because of historical experience and the reality on Taiwan, we have conceived the idea that after reunification of the motherland there may be 'one country two systems.'" Since then, the "one country two systems" formula has become a formal policy in the Communists' united front campaign against Taiwan, and they have set out to put the formula in practice in Hong Kong.

"One country two systems" appeared in the joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong which the Communists signed with the British on September 24, 1984. The main points of the formula and the reasons why the people and government of the Republic of China cannot accept it are in general as follows:

(1) The one country referred to by the Communists is the "People's Republic of China," so the name Republic of China would be eliminated, her flag would at best be demoted to a "regional flag," and her Constitution would be replaced by a "basic law" established by the Communists' National People's Congress.

Under the name, flag, and Constitution of the Republic of China, the people and government of the ROC have created a prosperity unprecedented in the history of China and continue to make strides toward democracy. Under the Communists' name, flag, and numerous constitutions, 30 million people starved after the Great Leap Forward and millions were killed and hundreds of millions persecuted during the Cultural Revolution. Their per capita income is less than one-twentieth of the ROC's (around US$250 compared with the ROC's US$5,000). What right have the Chinese Communists to ask that the Chinese people on Taiwan accept a name, flag, and constitution that have produced a catastrophe unmatched in the history of China?

(2) The "high degree of autonomy" under the "one country two systems" formula is determined by the National People's Congress, a rubber stamp controlled by the Communist regime, and interpreted by the standing committee, so it can be revised or revoked by the Communists at any time. Under these circumstances, does the so-called "high degree of autonomy" have any guarantees?

(3) That Taiwan can maintain its own army is empty talk. After reunification, Taiwan's forces would become part of the forces of the "People's Republic of China" and could be transferred, reduced, or disbanded by the Communists at any time. What good is an army like that?

(4) The Chinese Communists are in constant upheaval. Favored officials one day are imprisoned or murdered the next. Since Mao's death, the Communist leader-ship and its successors have changed several times. Since 1975, the Communists have changed constitutions three times. Who can believe their guarantees?

(5) If the Communists are sincere about their "special administrative region" with a high-degree of autonomy, they can begin by practicing it in Tibet and Hong Kong. When the Tibetans demanded that the Communists implement their nine-point proposal for Taiwan in Tibet, the Communists fiercely refused on the grounds that Tibet has already been "liberated." The Communists signed an agreement with Tibet in 1951 just like their nine-point proposal for Taiwan, but they disbanded the Tibetan government in 1959 and replaced it with direct military control.

And now in Hong Kong, the Communists have stipulated that only one-fourth of the committee drafting the basic law may be from Hong Kong, that the law will be interpreted by the standing committee, that they oppose direct elections, and that they have the power to station troops there.

On April 16, 1987, Teng Hsiao-p'ing stated, "If anything should happen in Hong Kong to threaten the nation's basic interests or Hong Kong's own basic interests, could Peking let it pass?" This shows that the Communists may use the pretext of "national interests" to interfere with Hong Kong's "high degree of autonomy" at any time.

As stated before, the main purpose of the Communists' "one country two systems" formula is to dupe the American government and people into gradually halting arms sales to Taiwan, thereby weakening Taiwan's defense forces and paving the way for a military invasion. Because the Communists noisily proclaim their "one country two systems" formula, the U.S. and other nations may come to think that the reunification of China can only occur under that formula. The people and the government of the Republic of China cannot but give this point their close attention.

[Picture Caption]

Can the Hong Kong people's hopes for direct elections and a democratic government be realized after 1997? (photo by Chung Yung-ho)

The Chinese Communists say that Tibet has been "liberated" and need not become a "special administrative region." (photo courtesy of Chin-Show Ltd.)

Per capita income in the ROC is about twenty times that on the mainland.

(photo by Chiu Sheng-wang)

Professor Chiu believes that the main purpose of the "one country two systems" formula is to dupe the American government and people into gradually hal ting arms sales to the ROC (photo by Vincent Chang)

Tennis is Kuo's "secret" for remaining energetic. （photo courtesy of Ministry of Communications）

Solving the domestic traffic problem will not be an easy task.