The Department of Public Affairs under the Office of the President clarified on February 7 that some media reports misinterpreted the Deputy Presidential Secretary-General's statement.
In regard to some reports' misinterpretations, the department rephrased Deputy Presidential Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai's speech that "the government's cross-strait policies, instead of the misinterpreted abolition of the National Unification Council and its Guidelines, have set directions, priorities and procedures, and no one is entitled to set unification as the ultimate goal."
According to the department, Cho said "The ultimate goal of the two sides shall be determined by the people, which is the long-term goal of the ruling party and where the country should be directed. Hasty unification will not be our ultimate goal as it has already aroused widespread resentment."