CCP and KMT's positions: identical except in degree of fanaticism.

Let's take a look at an article published just yesterday in the Communist party mouthpiece, the People's Daily (《人民日报》). We'll focus on two paragraphs in particular, though they're both quite a mouthful:

党的十七大报告指出：“坚持一个中国原则，是两岸关系和平发展的政治基础。尽管两岸尚未统一，但大陆和台湾同属一个中国的事实从未改变。中国是两岸同胞的共同家园，两岸同胞理应携手维护好、建设好我们的共同家园。台湾任何政党，只要承认两岸同属一个中国，我们都愿意同他们交流对话、协商谈判，什么问题都可以谈。我们郑重呼吁，在一个中国原则的基础上，协商正式结束两岸敌对状态，达成和平协议，构建两岸关系和平发展框架，开创两岸关系和平发展新局面。”这些重要论断客观描述了两岸关系的现状，明确了两岸关系和平发展的原则基础，表达了中国共产党推动两岸关系朝着和平发展方向前进的真诚意愿，指明了两岸实现互利共赢的正确方向。‧‧‧

The report on the 17th People's Congress pointed out: "Firmly holding to One China principal is the political basis for cross-strait peace and development. Although the two sides of the strait are not yet unified, the mainland and Taiwan are both part of one China and this reality has never changed. China is the home of compatriots on both sides of the strait, and they ought to help protect and develop the interests of our common home. We are willing to exchange dialogue, negotiate with, and discuss any issue with any political party in Taiwan, as long as it will admit that both sides of the strait are part of one China. We earnestly call for negotiations to formally end the state of hostility between the two sides of the strait and for a peace agreement on the basis of the one China principal. We solemnly call for construction of a cross strait peaceful development framework and a fresh start for the peaceful development of our relations."

These important points objectively describe the cross strait status quo, make clear the foundation for peaceful cross-strait development, express the Chinese Communist party's sincere willingness to push forward peaceful cross-strait development and clearly define a practical path to a "win-win" relationship in cross strait relations....

坚持一个中国原则事关中华民族根本利益。中华民族历来把分裂国家视为最大的罪恶。在国家统一这样的大是大非问题上，不可能有任何妥协的空间；只要坚持一个中国原则，其他任何事情都好商量。两岸关系要迈上和平发展的正确轨道，必须坚持一个中国原则；两岸要实现和平统一，也只有坚持一个中国原则。妄图通过所谓“两个中国”、“一中一台”、“两国论”、“一边一国论”、“去中国化”等各种论调和手段，蓄意扭曲一个中国的现状，蓄意破坏一个中国原则，都是在挑战民族大义和国家核心利益，都是在与浩浩荡荡的历史潮流相对抗，不仅无助于两岸关系和平发展，而且最终必然成为历史的罪人，落得失败的下场。

To firmly uphold the One China principal is a fundamental interest of the Chinese people. In the history of the Chinese people, splitting up the country has been the greatest sin. On a question as critical as the unification of our country, we cannot allow any room for compromise. As long as the one China principal is upheld, then any other issue can be negotiated. A long term peaceful development of cross strait relations is the correct path, but it requires the upholding of the One China principal; for the two sides of the strait to realize peaceful unification, all that's needed is firmly upholding the One China principal.

Efforts to promote "two Chinas," "one China, one Taiwan," "state-to-state relations," "one side, one country," and De-sinofication are all vain. They are an intentional distortion of the One China status quo, and intentional destruction of the One China principal, and they all provoke our people and country's most core interests. These efforts are also fighting against the flow of history. They not only do nothing to contribute to peaceful development of cross strait relations, but those who push them will ultimately be considered criminals of history, and they will fail.

Phew. That took a while. And as far as I know, it's the most direct overture to sign a peace agreement from teh CCP. Now for China, the "One China principal" is identical to the "92 consensus;" for the KMT, the "92 consensus" is defined as "One China, two interpretations." Since that sounds suspiciously like "two Chinas," the CCP will never accept the KMT definition.

But there's no need. If a phrase that can maintain some ambiguity like "92 consensus" is used, there is room for negotiations. And we all know Ma accepts the One China principal. Ma just insists that somehow "One China" is the ROC, and has never been able to explain if he believes the PRC exists (though interestingly, he can say the words PRC without actually saying they exist).

So the real point of this post is: there is room for a peace agreement and the establishment of a framework for continued peaceful cross strait relations, and both the KMT and CCP are very interested in moving on that quickly. You should quite rightly read that as plans to "Hong Kong-ize" Taiwan and sacrifice the de facto sovereignty that Taiwan now enjoys, while cutting off any possibility of future de jure sovereignty. And all this will be done in the name of peace and prosperity.

I still think the anti-unification forces must prevail. The alternative is unimaginable.