Taiwanese opposition party vice chairman calls for ‘cooperation’ in Beijing

Beijing, Feb 10 (EFE).- The vice president of the Kuomintang, Taiwan’s opposition party, said Friday he hoped to “sincerely cooperate” with Beijing, after a few months of high political tension in the Strait,Chinese state media reported.

Andrew Hsia met Song Tao, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office director, and said he wanted to “maintain communication” with the country, “deepen mutual trust” and “expand common ground” according to the Xinhua news agency.

The politician said there was a need to “properly manage differences” to “improve relations” and “protect peace and stability in the region.”

For his part, Song said China “is willing to enhance exchanges and build mutual trust with the Kuomintang” and work with the party to “promote cross-Strait relations.”

The director said Beijing would continue to “respect, care for and provide benefits to the compatriots of Taiwan.”

Hsia and Song said the basis of their cooperation is the “opposition to Taiwanese independence” and the defense of the 1992 Consensus, points on which Beijing and the Kuomintang agree.

The term “1992 Consensus” was created by Taiwanese politician and academic Su Chi to reflect an alleged tacit agreement between Taipei and Beijing to recognize that “there is only one China in the world,” although each side has interpreted it in their own way.

In November, the Kuomintang swept the island’s local elections, although analysts said that unlike in presidential elections, in which the situation in the Strait of Formosa is an important factor, the Taiwanese showed their discontent with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s local management.

The Kuomintang, which denies being pro-Beijing, has been a supporter of closer ties with China in recent years and defends the importance of keeping open communication lines.

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, has been governed autonomously since 1949, when Kuomintang nationalists retreated to the island after losing the Chinese civil war against the communists, so Beijing continues to consider it a rebel province and claims its sovereignty.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have been constant since the ruling party came to power in 2016. They intensified last summer due to the visit of Nancy Pelosi, then-United States Lower House speaker, a move strongly condemned by Chinese authorities, who called it a “farce” and “deplorable treason.” EFE

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