Deng Xiaoping and the Conception and Practice of ＂One Country, Two Systems＂
(Hongyan Chunqiu is authorized to be published by China communist party News Network, please don’t reprint it.)
February 19th, 2019 is the 22nd anniversary of the death of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s reform and opening up and the initiator of the concept of "one country, two systems". At the same time, this year coincides with the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return. "One country, two systems" has changed from a scientific concept to a vivid reality, and the successful practice achieved is the best memorial to this old man.
The scientific concept of "one country, two systems" is a creative concept with China characteristics, which was developed and perfected by Deng Xiaoping on the basis of the idea of peaceful liberation of Taiwan Province by the first generation of the leading collective of the CPC Central Committee with Mao Zedong at the core, and according to the needs of the new situation and new tasks in the new period of reform and opening up.
The rudiment of scientific conception.
In the second half of 1978, the negotiations on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States were still in progress, which involved the issue of Taiwan Province, which was one of the keys to the negotiations between the two sides. Deng Xiaoping’s thinking on these issues and his personal participation in the negotiations have effectively promoted the formation and emergence of the main idea of "one country, two systems".
During that time, Deng Xiaoping expressed the idea of respecting Taiwan Province’s reality in solving the Taiwan Province issue in many conversations. In October, Deng Xiaoping met with Japanese writer Eto Jun, and in November, he met with Myanmar President Wu Naiwen and American columnist Robert Nowak, all of which expressed this meaning. During the conversation, Deng Xiaoping pointed out that if the motherland is reunified, our policy in Taiwan Province will be handled according to the reality in Taiwan Province. For example, the United States has a large amount of investment in Taiwan Province, and the Japanese have a large amount of investment there. This is the reality, and we face this reality squarely. He also mentioned that after reunification, some systems in Taiwan Province can remain unchanged, so can the investment of the United States and Japan in Taiwan Province and the way of life there. Although there is no clear formulation of "one country, two systems" in these talks, his meaning has been clearly expressed, and the initial thinking that the China government will proceed from reality, respect the reality of Taiwan Province and protect foreign investment has been revealed. This is also an earlier talk about the concept of "one country, two systems" by Deng Xiaoping.
In December, the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued a communiqué, pointing out that "with the normalization of Sino-US relations, the prospect of Taiwan Province, the sacred territory of China, returning to the embrace of the motherland and realizing the great cause of reunification of the motherland has been further placed in front of us. We welcome Taiwan Province compatriots, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots and overseas Chinese to make positive contributions to the reunification and construction of the motherland in the spirit of patriotism. "
On January 1, 1979, on the same day that China and the United States established diplomatic relations, the NPC Standing Committee issued a Letter to Taiwan Province Compatriots, solemnly proclaiming the general policy of the China administration to peacefully resolve the Taiwan Province issue and calling on the two sides to hold talks on ending the military confrontation. He said that when realizing national reunification, he must "respect the current situation in Taiwan Province and the opinions of people from all walks of life in Taiwan Province, and adopt reasonable policies and measures".
Later, when meeting with Donovan, editor-in-chief of Time Publishing Company, Deng Xiaoping talked about the China administration’s Taiwan policy. He said: "We respect the reality in Taiwan Province. As a local government, the Taiwan Province authorities have their own power, that is, they can have their own army, trade and business relations with foreign countries, and people-to-people exchanges. The current policies and lifestyle can remain unchanged, but only under the condition of one China. This problem can be solved for a long time. The main body of China, that is, the mainland, will also change and develop. The general requirement is one, one China, not two China, a patriotic family. "
These important talks can be said to be the initial seeds of the concept of "one country, two systems".
The concretization and systematization of the framework content
From January 29th to February 5th, 1979, Deng Xiaoping, then Vice Premier of the State Council, paid an official visit to the United States at the invitation of President Carter. This is the first visit by a People’s Republic of China (PRC) leader to the United States. The 74-year-old Deng Xiaoping participated in dozens of activities, and many American media described Deng Xiaoping’s visit to the United States as "a whirlwind of Deng".
On the morning of 29th, the five-star red flag and the Stars and Stripes were raised side by side for the first time on the South Lawn of the White House, and US President Carter held a welcoming ceremony for Deng Xiaoping. This is an extraordinary historical moment. Brzezinski, President Carter’s national security assistant, recalled: "The atmosphere at that time was like charging electricity. I don’t remember such an exciting scene in the White House before." In an exclusive interview with reporters, he said that the first activity of Deng Xiaoping’s visit to the United States was to have a dinner at his home in the suburbs of Washington. During the dinner, he half-jokingly asked Deng Xiaoping: President Carter was in trouble in Congress because of the normalization of Sino-US relations. Does China have a similar problem? Deng Xiaoping replied without thinking: Of course, there are many opponents in Taiwan Province. Deng Xiaoping’s wit amazed brzezinski.
When Deng Xiaoping met with members of the U.S. Congress, some members raised provocative questions about Taiwan Province. Deng Xiaoping always emphasized clearly that Taiwan Province has always been a part of China. On the 30th, Deng Xiaoping said in a speech in the US Senate and House of Representatives, "As for how to solve the problem of Taiwan Province’s return to the motherland, it is China’s internal affair, and it is hoped that the Taiwan Province issue will be solved by peaceful means"; As long as Taiwan Province returns to the motherland, we will respect the reality and existing system there. Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "On the one hand, we respect the reality of Taiwan Province, on the other hand, we must return Taiwan Province to the embrace of the motherland; While respecting the reality, we should speed up the return of Taiwan Province to the motherland. " He said: "We no longer use the term’ liberating Taiwan Province’."
In December, when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira, Deng Xiaoping put forward the widely circulated "Three Constants". He pointed out that to achieve the goal of reunifying the motherland, we should proceed from the reality. After reunification, "Taiwan Province’s system and lifestyle will remain unchanged, and Taiwan Province’s non-governmental relations with foreign countries will remain unchanged, including foreign investment and non-governmental exchanges in Taiwan Province", and "Taiwan Province, as a local government, can have its own self-defense force and military force". The above-mentioned series of talks have become the basic framework for the formation of the concept of "one country, two systems".
On September 30th, 1981, Ye Jianying, Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), made a speech on "Principles and Policies for Taiwan Province’s Return to the Motherland to Realize Peaceful Reunification", which further clarified the "Nine Principles" for Taiwan Province’s Return to the Motherland to Realize Peaceful Reunification: (1) In order to put an end to the unfortunate situation that the Chinese nation is divided as soon as possible, we propose to hold reciprocal negotiations between the two parties of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang of China, and implement the third cooperation to jointly accomplish the great cause of the reunification of the motherland. The two sides can send people to contact first to fully exchange views. (2) People of all ethnic groups on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are eager to exchange news, reunite their relatives, conduct trade and enhance understanding. We suggest that the two sides jointly provide convenience for postal services, trade, navigation, visiting relatives, tourism and academic, cultural and sports exchanges and reach relevant agreements. (3) After the reunification of the country, Taiwan Province can enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region, and it can retain its army. The central government does not interfere in local affairs in Taiwan Province. (4) Taiwan Province’s current social and economic system will remain unchanged, its way of life will remain unchanged, and its economic and cultural relations with foreign countries will remain unchanged. Private property, houses, land, enterprise ownership, legal inheritance rights and foreign investment are inviolable. (5) Taiwan Province authorities and representatives from all walks of life may hold leading positions in national political institutions and participate in state management. (six) Taiwan Province local finance in case of difficulties, can be subsidized by the central government as appropriate. (7) People of all ethnic groups and people from all walks of life in Taiwan Province are willing to settle in the mainland of the motherland, ensuring proper arrangements, no discrimination and freedom of movement. (8) Welcome Taiwan Province businessmen to invest in the mainland of China,Set up various economic undertakings to ensure their legitimate rights and interests and profits. (9) It is everyone’s responsibility to reunify the motherland. We warmly welcome people of all ethnic groups, people from all walks of life and mass organizations in Taiwan Province to provide suggestions through various channels and ways to discuss the country.
In September, 1982, when Deng Xiaoping met with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, he expressed a major meaning, that is, the China administration was prepared to solve the Hong Kong issue by the method proposed in solving the Taiwan Province issue. After the recovery of Hong Kong, Hong Kong will still be capitalist, and many existing suitable systems should be preserved. Deng Xiaoping later said that it was during this meeting that the major principles for solving the Hong Kong issue were determined.
In June, 1983, when Deng Xiaoping met with Professor Yang Liyu of West East University in New Jersey, USA, he further expounded six concrete ideas for realizing the peaceful reunification of Taiwan Province and the mainland of the motherland: (1) The core of the Taiwan Province issue is the reunification of the motherland, and peaceful reunification has become the common language of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. (2) The system may be different, but China can only be represented by People’s Republic of China (PRC) internationally. (3) We disapprove of the formulation of "complete autonomy" in Taiwan Province, which means "two China" instead of one China. Autonomy cannot be unlimited, and it cannot harm the interests of a unified country. (4) After the reunification of the motherland, the Taiwan Province Special Administrative Region can implement a system different from that of the mainland, and it can enjoy certain powers that are unique to it and are not available in other provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. The judiciary is independent, and the right of final adjudication does not need to go to Beijing. Taiwan Province can still have its own army, but it can’t pose a threat to the mainland. The mainland does not send people to Taiwan, not only the army, but also the administrative personnel. Taiwan Province’s party, government, military and other systems are managed by Taiwan Province himself. The central government will also set aside places for Taiwan Province. (5) Peaceful reunification does not mean that the mainland eats up Taiwan Province, and certainly it cannot mean that Taiwan Province eats up the mainland. The so-called "Three People’s Principles reunify China" is unrealistic. (6) To achieve reunification, there must be an appropriate way. It is suggested to hold talks between the two parties on an equal footing and implement the third cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, without mentioning the central and local negotiations. After the two sides reach an agreement, they can formally announce it. However, foreign countries must not be allowed to intervene, which can only mean that China is not yet independent, and there will be endless future troubles.
From "Three Invariants" to "Ye Jiutiao" and then to "Deng Liutiao", the scientific concept of "one country, two systems" is more complete, substantial, concrete and systematic, and the general framework of the principle of "one country, two systems" has basically taken shape.
The formal establishment of the basic national policy
In February 1984, Deng Xiaoping met with a delegation from the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Georgetown University. He said: "The way we proposed to reunify the mainland and Taiwan Province is reasonable. After reunification, Taiwan Province still pursues its capitalism and the mainland pursues socialism, but it is a unified China. One China, two systems. The same is true of the Hong Kong issue. " A few months later, in the Government Work Report adopted by the Second Session of the Sixth National People’s Congress, the concept of "one country, two systems" was formally expounded, thus making this formulation legally effective.
In June, Deng Xiaoping met with the Hong Kong business delegation and Hong Kong celebrity Zhong Shiyuan respectively, and delivered a famous talk on "One Country, Two Systems", the main points of which mainly included:
(1) The policy of "one country, two systems" will remain unchanged for a long time. He said: "We have talked about’ one country, two systems’ many times, and the National People’s Congress has adopted this policy. Some people are worried that this policy will not change, and I said it will not change. " In connection with the Hong Kong issue, he pointed out more clearly that "we have adopted the" one country, two systems "approach to solve the Hong Kong issue, which is not a temporary emotional impulse or a gimmick. We are proceeding from reality and fully take care of the history and reality of Hong Kong" and "our policy towards Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years, and we mean what we say". Deng Xiaoping emphasized his determination to unswervingly implement the policy of "one country, two systems" with "fifty years unchanged", and at the same time showed the world that China would keep its promise, which created the necessary conditions for promoting the implementation of "one country, two systems".
(2) The main body of "one country, two systems" is socialism. He pointed out that "one country, two systems", specifically, means that within People’s Republic of China (PRC), the mainland with a population of one billion will implement the socialist system, while Hong Kong and Taiwan Province will implement the capitalist system ",and" our policy towards Hong Kong will remain unchanged for a long time, which will not affect the socialism in the mainland. The main body of China must be socialism, but some regions in China are allowed to implement the capitalist system, such as Hongkong and Taiwan Province. ". Deng Xiaoping emphasized the indispensable prerequisite of "one country, two systems" with the unquestionable expression that "the subject must be socialism".
(3) "One country, two systems" provides some useful clues for solving many international problems. He said: "The concept of" one country, two systems "was put forward by us according to China’s own situation, and now it has become an international concern." "China has the problems of Hongkong and Taiwan Province. Where is the way to solve this problem? ….. If we can’t solve it peacefully, we can only solve it by force, which is unfavorable to all parties. Realizing national reunification is the aspiration of the nation. If it is not unified for a hundred years, it will be unified for a thousand years. " In the face of a series of disputes in the world, whether to solve them by peaceful means or by non-peaceful means, Deng Xiaoping gave a positive answer by questioning: "From the perspective of world history, which government has formulated such an enlightened policy? From the perspective of capitalist history, from the perspective of western countries, which country has done this? " The creative policy of "one country, two systems" not only promotes the peaceful reunification of China, but also provides a reference for countries around the world to solve problems left over from history.
In March 1985, the Third Session of the Sixth National People’s Congress formally defined "one country, two systems" as a basic national policy of China. So far, the basic policy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China governments to solve the problems of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao by "one country, two systems" and realize national reunification has been formally established.
Successful Practice of the Return of Hong Kong and Macao
The scientific concept of "one country, two systems" has first achieved success in solving the Hong Kong and Macao issues. Starting from the history and reality of Hong Kong and Macao, the China Government has put forward the principle that it is necessary to recover the sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao on schedule and maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and Macao.
In September 1982, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited China, which officially kicked off the Sino-British negotiations on the Hong Kong issue. During the negotiation, Mrs Thatcher proposed that the topic of the negotiation was a question of ownership. Deng Xiaoping immediately retorted, these are three questions: the first is the issue of sovereignty, and the two sides always have to reach an agreement on the return of Hong Kong to China; The second is how to manage Hong Kong after we resumed the exercise of sovereignty in 1997, that is, what kind of system will be implemented in Hong Kong; The third is the arrangement during the 15-year transition period, that is, how to create conditions for the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty. Later, he also emphasized that if there were serious fluctuations in Hong Kong during the 15-year transition period, "the China government would be forced to reconsider the time and method of recovery".
Deng Xiaoping’s conversation with Margaret Thatcher clearly expressed the principled position of the governments of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and China and their firm determination to recover Hong Kong on time. In this way, the Chinese and British governments held 22 rounds of formal negotiations on the Hong Kong issue, and finally reached an agreement in September 1984. On December 19th, the heads of Chinese and British governments formally signed the Joint Statement on Hong Kong.
At 0: 00 on July 1, 1997, the handover ceremony of the Hong Kong regime between the Chinese and British governments was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The regional flags of National Flag of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were raised in Hong Kong, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established immediately. The PLA troops stationed in Hong Kong also arrived in various camps in Hong Kong to carry out effective defense, marking the official resumption of the exercise of sovereignty by the China government over Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s return to the motherland after a hundred years of vicissitudes marks that Hong Kong compatriots have since become the real masters of this land of the motherland, and the development of Hong Kong has entered a brand-new era.
In June 1986, China and Portugal held the first round of talks on Macao. In April of the following year, the Chinese and Portuguese governments signed the Joint Declaration on Macao, announcing that Macao (including Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island) is the territory of China, and People’s Republic of China (PRC) will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao on December 20, 1999. This is another political event in the contemporary history of China after the successful settlement of the Hong Kong issue by China and Britain in 1984.
At 0: 00 on December 20, 1999, the handover ceremony of Macao’s political power between the Chinese and Portuguese governments was held in the Garden of Macao Cultural Center. The China government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao, and Macao returned to the embrace of the motherland, opening a new era of historical development. After the reunification, Macao continued to maintain the original capitalist system, implemented "Macao people ruling Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, and embarked on a broad road that conforms to its own actual situation and complements the advantages of the mainland and develops together.
The settlement of problems left over from the history of Hong Kong and Macao is a great achievement of the great cause of the reunification of the motherland, which strongly proves the scientific nature of the principle of "one country, two systems" put forward by Deng Xiaoping from theory to practice. The settlement of the Hong Kong and Macao issues not only makes an important step forward in the great cause of China’s reunification, but also provides an example for the international community to solve historical problems left over by countries in a peaceful way.
Realizing the great cause of peaceful reunification of China conforms to the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and is also the common aspiration of the people of the whole country. Although the road is tortuous, we believe that in the near future, with the continuous exploration of the "two systems" Taiwan Province plan, the practice of peaceful reunification will be further enriched. A powerful China unified according to "one country, two systems" will surely appear in the east of the world, which is also the best comfort for the deceased.
(Author: Party History Research Office of Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China)
Source: Hongyan Chunqiu, No.2, 2019