Chinese Political History II: Chapter 9, Exercise 2 — Possible Solution
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TASK
Trace the sequence from the 1992 Consensus to the 2016 suspension of
contact, and say what role the "different interpretations" clause plays.

SEQUENCE
- Oct-Nov 1992: SEF and ARATS talks produce a formula in which both sides
  upheld one China with different interpretations; 1993 Wang-Koo summit.
- March 2005: the Anti-Secession Law authorizes military action if Taiwan
  formally declares independence.
- 2008-2016: under Ma Ying-jeou, 23 agreements and eleven high-level talks;
  a shift from mutual non-recognition to mutual non-denial; Xi and Ma meet
  on 7 November 2015.
- 2016: Tsai Ing-wen wins a landslide; Beijing suspends official
  communications on 25 June 2016 and calls her answer an "incomplete test
  paper."

ROLE OF THE CLAUSE
The "different interpretations" wording let both sides use the formula while
meaning different things by "one China." That made contact possible. It also
made contact depend on how a leader chose to interpret it: Beijing treated
Tsai's answer as insufficient and cut communication.

CAUTION
I did not research how each side now describes the consensus, so do not
claim what it committed either side to.