National Unification Council

The National Unification Council, established in February 1990, is a governmental agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan) which no longer functions but whose formal aim is to promote reintegration of mainland China into the Republic of China.

In February 1991, the council drafted the Guidelines for National Unification, which outlined a three-phase approach for Chinese unification. The Guidelines called for Beijing to democratize and become more developed as the precondition for serious talks about steps toward eventual integration.

The Council was suspended in early 2006, with President Chen Shui-bian remarking:

“The National Unification Council will cease to function. No budget will be ear-marked for it and its personnel must return to their original posts...The National Unification Guidelines will cease to apply. In accordance with procedures, this decision will be transmitted to the Executive Yuan for notice.”

Chen had previously called for the NUC to be “abolished” but later toned this down to "cease to function". The government was ambiguous on whether “cease to function” was the same as “abolish”.

There have been calls for President Ma Ying-jeou to reinstate the National Unification Council, with The China Post remarking in a commentary:

The best and easiest way to show his sincerity is to reinstate the National Unification Council made to cease to function by President Chen. Or to sign a peace accord with President Hu Jintao.