In the midst of tense cross-strait relations in Taiwan, Taiwan’s Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) decided to send a KMT delegation to Xiamen to participate in the 12th Straits Forum, despite opposition from the Land Commission, led by former Legislative Yuan President Wang Jinping. Taiwan’s Land Commission proposed the ban again on Tuesday (Sept. 8). The government has also proposed “three bans” on the Straits Forum.
In a news release, KMT Chairman Jiang Qichen decided to send a delegation to participate in the 12th Straits Forum, which will be held in Xiamen on September 20, with former Legislative Yuan President Wang Jinping as the head of the delegation. In order to maintain Taiwan’s security and prosperity, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait must continue to exchange views and dialogue in order to reverse the malicious spiral toward war and provide better options for the people of Taiwan, the news release said.
The KMT said that cross-strait relations have deteriorated since the DPP came to power in 2016. Over the past six months, due to the strong stance of the Chinese Communist Party authorities toward Taiwan and the DPP government’s no less aggressive stance toward the mainland, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are gradually moving into an increasingly hostile and dangerous situation, coupled with the frequent activities of the PLA and the U.S. military around Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen has recently publicly stated that she is worried about a cross-strait spat. The KMT said Wang will be able to effectively convey to the mainland the concerns of the Taiwanese people about the situation across the Taiwan Strait and promote understanding between the two societies.
In an interview with Taiwan media on Tuesday, Wang said that tensions between the U.S. and China have involved Taiwan, and President Tsai Ing-wen also said she does not want a firefight, but there is no official contact between the two sides, and the KMT needs to take the initiative to play an important role. The KMT needs to play a more proactive role,” he said, adding that cross-strait confrontation is serious and he hopes everyone can relax and use this trip to ease the hearts of the people on both sides.
In response to the KMT delegation’s visit to Xiamen to participate in the Straits Forum, Taiwan’s Land Affairs Council said Tuesday that participants should be mindful of Taiwan society’s perception of the forum as a united front event. The committee also said that participants should abide by the regulations on cross-Strait people-to-people relations and should not engage in illegal acts of cooperation, enter into alliances, or sign agreements, memoranda or other instruments with the mainland.
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan President Su Tseng-chang also warned that he was not aware of the KMT’s operations, but that anyone, or any political party or organization, must abide by national laws and regulations.
The DPP, for its part, issued a statement on Tuesday criticizing the KMT’s participation in the Straits Forum. The statement said that the KMT’s recent so-called “new cross-strait discourse” is due to resistance from party elders and pressure from the Chinese Communist Party, and that it can only be old wine in old bottles, replaying the outdated “1992 Consensus, one China, separate watches”, which is seriously out of touch with mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. There is no way to get rid of the Chinese Communist Party’s united front manipulation of Taiwan.
On September 3, the Land Commission expressed the government’s policy position of “three prohibitions” on the activities of the Straits Forum, namely: prohibiting the holding of activities related to the Straits Forum in Taiwan, and not wanting people from Taiwan to participate in the video conference; disliking the participation of local governments in Taiwan, and calling on public groups not to participate easily; and prohibiting participation in the “democratic consultation” for the elimination of the Republic of China and the promotion of the “one country, two systems Taiwan proposal”.
Taiwan media reported that the KMT delegation to the Straits Forum will number more than 100 and is expected to meet with Chinese CPPCC Chairman Wang Yang for dialogue. Wang said Tuesday that it was up to him to decide whether to meet with the mainland’s top officials in Xiamen.
The KMT delegation will reportedly visit Taiwan-invested enterprises in the Xiamen area during the event and plan to hold talks with teachers and students in Taiwan, and is scheduled to return to Taiwan on the 21st.
Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Tuesday that the Straits Forum will also be attended by Taiwan’s New Party, pro-democracy parties and other political parties and people from all walks of life.
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