MAC denies early '1 country, 2 areas' knowledge

Lai stressed, however, that Wu's remarks are in line with the government's long-held stance on cross-strait relations, and do not signal that the ruling administration is changing its current position to maintain the status quo.

“The 'one country, two areas' concept is in line with the Republic of China Constitution, which states that the R.O.C. encompasses both Taiwan and mainland China,” said Lai when asked by lawmakers to comment on the issue during a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Yuan.

The concept is also clearly defined under the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, she went on.

The MAC chief, however, admitted to opposition lawmakers that she was not informed before Wu made the comment on cross-strait relations, even though she is the head of Taiwan's top governmental agency responsible for policy concerning China.

Lai's comments immediately drew heavy fire from Democratic Progressive Party legislators, who accused Wu of making the controversial remarks about Taiwan sovereignty without first consulting with government officials or informing the country's parliament.

Lai defended Wu, saying that the senior KMT member's proposal is not a new one and has not violated the current government's stance on Taiwan-China relations, even though she was not told beforehand.

Wu's comment is a simple reiteration of cross-strait relations based on the R.O.C. Constitution and it has been closely followed in Taiwan even during the period of the previous DPP administration between 2000 and 2008, she noted.

Late Thursday, Wu told Communist Party of China leader Hu Jintao in Beijing that President Ma Ying-jeou backs the notion of “one country, two areas” and that relations between Taiwan and China are not “state-to-state relations,” but “special relations.”

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