Scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Straits on Tuesday hailed the importance of the 1992 Consensus at a symposium marking its 30th anniversary.

The 1992 Consensus refers to the agreement reached in 1992 by the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, with both having agreed to state that "the two sides of the Taiwan Straits both stick to the one-China principle."

At Tuesday's symposium, the scholars as well as witnesses of the historic event agreed that the essence of the 1992 Consensus is that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China and will work together toward national reunification."

There are documents and written records on the process of how the 1992 Consensus was reached and its content, which can neither be denied nor distorted by anyone or any force, they said.

It defines the fundamental nature of cross-strait relations and lays the political foundation for the development of ties across the Straits, they agreed.

'Political wisdom'

The participants of the symposium said they believed that the 1992 Consensus embodies the political wisdom of both sides of the Taiwan Straits to set aside disputes and seek common ground.

Both history and reality over the past 30 years have proved that when the 1992 Consensus is recognized and the one-China principle upheld, the cross-strait relations can develop peacefully and Taiwan compatriots can benefit from it; but when the 1992 Consensus is denied and the one-China principle broken, there will be turmoil in the cross-strait relations and the interests of Taiwan compatriots will be undermined, they agreed.

They added that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities insist on adhering to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist path, attempt to solicit foreign support, and deliberately manufacture cross-strait confrontation, which has pushed the Taiwan region into a dangerous situation.

The DPP authorities will surely be spurned by the people and judged by history, warned the participants.

(Cover: The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei City, southeast China's Taiwan. /CFP)