The head of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), defended his “brave” approach to Beijing on Sunday after a senior official visited China on a trip condemned by the Taipei government that upset even some members of the party, according to what Reuters reports.
China’s military high schools near the democratically-ruled island this month in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei were widely condemned in Taiwan, including by the KMT.
But the KMT’s decision to send its deputy chairman Andrew Hsia to China on what the party said was a prearranged visit to the Taiwanese business community there, shortly after the exercises began, sparked a storm of reaction.
Late Saturday, after his return, Taiwan’s China-policy Mainland Affairs Council said Hsia was wrong to go and that opposition parties should recognize that China is “the instigator of the destruction of peace in the Taiwan Strait”.
Speaking at the party’s annual conference in Taoyuan, outside Taipei, its chairman Eric Chu said Hsia and others were “very brave and determined” and that it was important to keep the lines of communication open to avoid conflict.
“We know there will be different opinions and reactions, but the KMT must insist on doing the right thing,” he said. “Furthermore, if the two sides are in serious competition, no one can avoid the risk of war.”
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi, a senior KMT member who had called the value of visiting China “debatable” at this time, declined to answer reporters’ questions about Hsia at the conference.
Hsia, who is now under government-imposed quarantine, met with senior officials while in China, including a deputy head of the Taiwan Affairs Office.
Taiwan is gearing up for mayoral and councilor elections on Nov. 26, a test for both parties ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in early 2024.
Local elections have traditionally been more about domestic issues such as pollution and social issues than Taiwan’s international standing or ties to China, but the election campaign is now taking place in the shadow of Beijing’s exercises.
The KMT was unable to shake off accusations by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that it would sell out Taiwan to China ahead of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections, leading the DPP to a landslide victory.
The KMT ruled China until it fled with the defeated ROC government to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
