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KMT welcomes
deepening cross-strait ties
Staff Writer, with CNA
A senior Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) official responsible for China affairs
yesterday said the party welcomed continued deepening of ties between Taiwan and
China, as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) pledged to expand relations across
the Taiwan Strait this year.
Opening the fifth annual session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) in
Beijing, Wen proposed strengthening the foundation for cross-strait political,
economic, cultural and public development, adding that China would create new
prospects for cross-strait peace.
Wen’s statement was likely to have come as a result of the KMT’s Jan. 14
election success, which has allowed the two sides to maintain interactions in
accord with the (so-called) “1992 consensus,” said Kao Huei (高輝), director of
the KMT’s Mainland Affairs Department.
The “1992 consensus” refers to what the KMT describes as a tacit cross-strait
understanding that there is only “one China,” with each side free to interpret
the meaning of the phrase.
“We really welcome continued peaceful and stable development of cross-strait
relations,” Kao said.
The KMT also expressed hope that China’s “two meetings” — the NPC and the
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as well as the 18th
-National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party later this year — would go
smoothly, the official said.
The reason, he said, is that the development of China’s politics and economics
will be closely related to future cross-straits ties and the Taiwanese public’s
confidence in relations with China.
Kao also expressed hope that Beijing would understand the “wise decisions”
Taiwanese voters made and would not ignore the fact that many Taiwanese still
have doubts about current Taiwan-China exchanges.
The reasons might be complicated, which shows that the two sides have not built
enough mutual trust, Kao said.
Thus, “increasing mutual trust across the Strait is a major goal in the future
development of cross-strait relations.”
The Asian studies expert took Chinese students studying in Taiwan as an example.
To them, Taiwanese are “familiar strangers” because of the two sides’
differences in systems and values. The two groups seem to be on good terms, but
are actually unfamiliar with each other, Kao said.
The KMT’s role is especially important in this, since it is shaping the
direction of cross-strait relations as the ruling party, Kao said.
“The KMT plays a very important role in fostering mutual cross-strait trust and
understanding. It must convey the voice of the Taiwanese to China in a
responsible and thorough manner,” he said.
Kao reiterated President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) stance that the party would stick
to the principle of “putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people” when
communicating and engaging with China.
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