The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is discouraging party workers from traveling to China as it attempts to devote both financial and human resources to campaigning for November’s special municipality elections.
KMT officials and party workers have been involved in frequent cross-strait activities since President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration came to power, and the opening of the World Expo last Saturday attracted an even larger number of party officials to Shanghai, led by former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄).
Wu’s travel and banquet expenses were paid for by the KMT, while Lien paid his own way from his private fund.
The party will also look to cut costs in Taiwan as a banquet to welcome visitors from China often costs up to NT$1 million (US$30,000).
KMT Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday confirmed that the KMT had asked party workers to refrain from making frequent visits to China, and to instead focus their time and efforts on preparing for the elections.
“We have asked local branches to make manpower adjustments. We will cut down on cross-strait exchanges work and focus on election campaigns,” Su said.
The Chinese-language China Times reported that KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) had instructed local branches to bar party workers from making official visits or participating in inspection tours to China prior to November’s five special municipality elections.
The decision was made to prevent the Democratic Progressive Party from attacking the KMT because of its close ties with China and to control the party’s budget, the story said.
Su said the party did not prohibit party workers from visiting China, but did ask them to focus their efforts on campaigning for party candidates.
Asked to comment on the issue, Wu said he respected the party’s decision, but added that he has covered the expenses of many of the cross-strait exchanges with his own money.
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