Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 13 (CNA) President Ma Ying- jeou told Taiwanese media Monday why Kuomintang presidential hopeful Hung Hsiu-chu's "one China, common interpretation" idea does not go beyond his "one China, different interpretation" policy toward China.

Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu is likely to get the ruling party's nomination for the 2016 presidential election next Sunday. Her China policy proposal has therefore attracted much attention.

Meeting Taiwanese press on the first leg of his three-nation Central America and Caribbean visit, Ma said Hung's and his China policy mantras have one thing in common: both are stating there is only one China.

The difference lies in his "different interpretation" of what "one China" means to China and to Taiwan, Ma said, insisting that to Taiwan, it means the Republic of China.

Constitutionally, he said, there could not be two Chinas, or "one China, one Taiwan" or an independent Taiwan separate from China.

Under the constitutional framework, Ma said, "things can get done rather easily," touting the usefulness of being ambiguous on sensitive subjects.

There might not be any feeling of freshness when it comes to the 1992 consensus -- the tacit understanding between Taiwan and China regarding their respective views of "one China" -- and yet it gives a sense of security, Ma said.

However fragile or ambiguous the consensus has been, it has been accepted (by China) -- and has worked all along, he added.

He said Hung's "one China, common interpretation" is also seeking a common ground between Taiwan and China while using it to solve all practical problems between the two sides of the strait, and so "it has not gone beyond the boundary of my 'one China, different interpretation' principle."

However, he said he would advise Hung to step back to "one China, different interpretation" since her "common interpretation" might create confusion for people now well versed in cross-strait affairs.

Ma is scheduled to return to Taiwan late June 18, just in time to see a KMT congress endorsing Hung's nomination as the party's candidate for next year's election.

(By Kelven Huang and S.C. Chang)
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