Living up to Shaohua is the best tribute to life. In a hurry, regret is the norm in life. What you have worked hard for, you may also have regrets. Deng Xiaoping, who promoted the arrival of a great era, did a lot for the motherland and the people, but he also sighed, "There is one thing that has not been done in this life." What exactly made Deng Xiaoping "grumble"?
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no country's trampling or interference. Especially at the moment of the epidemic, national pride is gushing, and the comprehensive strength of the country is a bright existence in the world. But even in today's China, there is still a hidden pain - the Taiwan issue.
The workers' and peasants' class led by the Communist Party of China defeated the decadent Kuomintang regime headed by Chiang Kai-shek and won the war of liberation. Then, Chiang Kai-shek retreated to Taiwan, always waiting for a counter-attack on the mainland, and the people of the mainland, with Taiwan in their hearts, always thinking about Taiwan's early return.
But the road back has been too long, starting from Chairman Mao to Deng Xiaoping taking over the baton, and to this day, it is still in a state where the two sides of the strait are facing each other across the sea. And this involves Deng Xiaoping's lifelong regrets, and he said that he had one regret left in his life -- the return of Taiwan.
In 1989, Sino-Soviet relations were normalized, and the Soviet Union's "death knell" was also faintly sounded. At that time, When Deng Xiaoping met with then Soviet leader Gorbachev, he talked about the Taiwan issue.
In his dialogue with Deng Xiaoping, Gorbachev delivered an olive branch of peace, and Deng Xiaoping also maintained a friendly attitude, and the atmosphere between the two sides can be seen to be relatively harmonious. As the conversation continued, Deng Xiaoping said with regret: There is one thing I want to do in this life, but I am afraid that I will not be able to do it. This matter is to properly resolve the Taiwan issue.
In settling the Taiwan issue, Deng Xiaoping was "desperately trying to do three things." However, Taiwan is a pawn of the United States in containing China, and on top of several confrontations in the Taiwan Strait, there is an indelible figure of the United States. The existence of this churning stick has made the Taiwan issue sensitive and responsible. Solving all this requires great wisdom.
Deng Xiaoping aimed at various opportunities, told the United States about China's firm position, and conveyed a message of reconciliation to Taiwan. At the same time, Deng Xiaoping was also designing from the top level to break the situation on the Taiwan issue. Maybe Deng Xiaoping tried hard, but "couldn't see the head", so sighed.
Deng Xiaoping was well aware of the heavy responsibility he had on him. In 1974, Chairman Mao said regretfully to the visiting British Prime Minister, "I can't wait for that day when the motherland is reunified." Chairman Mao pointed to Deng Xiaoping, who was also present at the reception, "This problem must be left to the young people to solve." ”
Under the leadership of Chairman Mao, Deng Xiaoping took part in many major policy decisions on Taiwan work. Accomplishing the unfinished business was the mission of Deng Xiaoping's generation. The weight of a thousand pounds is on the body, not that there is no fulcrum to pry up.
President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 broke the "deadlock" between China and the United States. Deng Xiaoping greatly appreciated Nixon's move, and he also saw hope for a solution to the Taiwan issue.
In 1975, Deng Xiaoping put forward his own ideas on the Taiwan issue as a crucial prerequisite for the normalization of Sino-US relations. In Deng Xiaoping's view, if the United States thinks that the conditions proposed by China are not mature, China can wait, but China's position is clear, and the Taiwan issue is to be resolved.
When Carter ascended to the U.S. presidency in 1977, he signaled improved relations with China. Deng Xiaoping seized the opportunity to actively engage in dialogue and negotiation with the US side.
During the negotiations, China put forward a policy of adjustment to the Taiwan issue. China's original proposal to "liberate Taiwan" was changed to "settlement" of the Taiwan issue. How to solve the problem, Deng Xiaoping used the new term "Taiwan's return to China."
In 1979, Deng Xiaoping proposed that the great cause of Taiwan's return to the motherland should be put on a specific agenda. In the same year, during his visit to the United States, Deng Xiaoping had extensive exchanges with American politicians. Deng Xiaoping pointed out, "The Taiwan issue is no longer used by China to use the word 'liberation', which expresses a desire of ours to resolve it peacefully." ”
In his speech in 1980, Deng Xiaoping clearly put forward three major things to be accomplished in the 1980s, one of which was the issue of Taiwan's return. Deng Xiaoping also admitted that the process will certainly be full of twists and turns, but it is imperative.
Deng Xiaoping felt that the Taiwan issue could not be dragged on indefinitely. The Taiwan issue is essentially an ethnic issue. There is no room for this problem, even if it cannot be completed in a hundred years, it will still be completed in a thousand years.
Deng Xiaoping's determination to promote the reunification of the motherland was firm, but in terms of methods and methods, he was "flexible." Deng Xiaoping was good at seizing various opportunities and playing the "emotional card." In May 1978, Chiang Ching-kuo was elected as the new "president" and became the supreme leader of Taiwan. This political change allowed Deng Xiaoping to see a new path to resolving the Taiwan issue.
Deng Xiaoping and Chiang Ching-kuo had intersected in Moscow and had become friends. The two never saw each other again after parting in the Soviet Union. Deng Xiaoping felt that even if the two did not stand together now, the friendship of the past could still have some effect.
In 1980, Deng Xiaoping sent someone to bring a message to Chiang Ching-kuo, "I hope to complete reunification as soon as possible, we are all old classmates, we should cooperate." We are also all seventy-year-old people, and if we solve it well in our generation, history will say good things about us, and it will also do good things for future generations. ”
Deng Xiaoping also threw out an olive branch in line with the trend, "It is also possible to talk privately, and after full communication, we should be able to find reasonable ways and methods." ”
Taiwan's attitude was initially unsatisfactory. But Deng Xiaoping did not give up and was always looking for an opportunity to pass on the word to Chiang Ching-kuo. In 1982, Chiang Ching-kuo revealed in an article mourning Chiang Kai-shek that he hoped that his father would return to his hometown and be with his ancestors. Deng Xiaoping reacted immediately, expressing China's sincerity through Liao Chengzhi's open letter to Chiang Ching-kuo.
Chiang Ching-kuo understood the meeting and asked Song Meiling to reply to Liao Chengzhi, in which he mentioned the three noes policy of "no contact, no negotiation, and no compromise." The seemingly unfriendly reply was actually Chiang Ching-kuo's "strategy" to stabilize the Kuomintang diehards.
Chiang Ching-kuo sent his close associate Shen Cheng to Beijing. Shen Cheng was a staff officer of Chiang Ching-kuo's entourage, and later "transformed" into a Hong Kong businessman at Chiang Ching-kuo's behest. Shen Cheng's main job is to secretly convey information from both sides of the strait.
Chiang Ching-kuo
Deng Xiaoping was cautious in receiving Shen Cheng, prompting the main body of negotiations between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Nationalist Party, and avoiding possible asymmetries. Shen Cheng did not fail in his mission and conveyed to Chiang Ching-kuo the sincerity of the Communist Party of China for peace. Chiang Ching-kuo hopes that in his lifetime, he will find a channel to complete reconciliation.
In his speech in 1986, Chiang Ching-kuo said, "There is only one China, and China must be reunified." "Public opinion in Taiwan has also changed. In 1987, Chiang Ching-kuo established the Mainland Work Steering Group. This is a clear signal that Chiang Ching-kuo wants to start reciprocal negotiations with the Communist Party.
Unfortunately, Chiang Ching-kuo's body was "indisputable" and he died suddenly in 1988. Deng Xiaoping's efforts also came to an abrupt end because of Chiang Ching-kuo's death, and Deng Xiaoping deeply felt sad.
The Taiwan issue is no longer a day or two, but has long since evolved into an issue left over from history. It is a fact that Taiwan operates under the capitalist system, and it is also a fact that the people are eager for the motherland to end its state of division. Deng Xiaoping has always been thinking about accomplishing the great cause of the motherland's reunification, while also winning the hearts and minds of the people. In the end, Deng Xiaoping gave the "China solution."
In 1978, during a meeting with the Burmese president, Deng Xiaoping said, "China's attitude toward resolving the Taiwan issue is clear, that is, reunification. The great cause of reunification also has principles and a bottom line, and will respect Taiwan's reality. At present, some of the systems that are running smoothly in Taiwan cannot be changed, some of the investments made by the United States and Japan in Taiwan will not change, and the way of life of the masses will not change. ”
In 1981, when Ye Jianying spoke to a Xinhua reporter, he mentioned the nine-point principle of peaceful reunification of China, which is essentially consistent with Deng Xiaoping's idea of "one country, two systems."
When meeting with overseas friends, Deng Xiaoping once said, "The nine-point policy put forward by Chairman Ye Jianying is actually two systems. Taiwan should not undermine the mainland's system, and we will not undermine their system. ”
In 1982, Deng Xiaoping, in a meeting with visiting British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said that the recovery of Hong Kong's sovereignty could be solved by "one country, two systems." In the constitution adopted by the National People's Congress in the same year, "one country, two systems" became the fundamental law of the country, and its implementation was guaranteed by the Constitution.
China and britain have held several rounds of negotiations on resolving the Hong Kong issue. Deng Xiaoping expounded the concept of "one country, two systems" on different occasions, and was also thinking simultaneously about the concept of peaceful reunification of Taiwan and the mainland of the motherland.
In 1983, the "Deng Liu Tiao" on "one country, two systems" came out. When Deng Xiaoping met with a professor in the United States, he talked about six principles:
First, Taiwan has returned to China as a special administrative region of Taiwan. Second, Taiwan has independence and can have a system different from that of the mainland. The third is Taiwan's judicial independence. Fourth, Taiwan can have its own army. Fifth, Taiwan's party, government, and military systems are all managed by Taiwan itself. Sixth, the central government will reserve a quota for Taiwan.
The "Deng Liu Tiao" fully considered Taiwan's interests. With such a high profile, Taiwan naturally has to respond. In 1985, Taiwan said that it would not directly intervene in cross-strait trade, and cultural and academic exchanges showed signs of loosening. The state of artificial isolation of the people on both sides of the strait has thus been broken.
Unfortunately, Deng Xiaoping did not see the idea of "one country, two systems" in Taiwan in the 1980s as possible. This also became his lifelong regret.
Today, the important task of the reunification of the motherland is still before us. In the new era, we should continue to struggle. As a descendant of Yan Huang, Taiwan is also influenced by the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, which is a blood relationship that can never be abandoned. The mother of the motherland has been calling to Taiwan and waving to Taiwan. I believe that a drop of channel water is full of hope that is not far away.
Under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping's "chief designer," China has made tremendous progress in China's modernization drive by virtue of its reform and opening up, and is making great strides toward the road of rejuvenation. China respects the wishes of Taiwan compatriots in choosing their own hearts and is willing to share opportunities with Taiwan compatriots. We sincerely welcome Taiwan to join us and work together for the Chinese dream.