Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said that if Taiwan maintains an “unclear” attitude toward the “1992 consensus,” it would face an unsympathetic international situation.
US President Barack Obama reiterated his “strong commitment” to the US’ “one China” policy at a joint news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Friday.
Hung said Obama’s comments show that the US has not altered its stance concerning the cross-strait relationship.
Photo: CNA
“Therefore, it is up to Taiwan to emphasize [Taiwan’s adherence to] the 1992 consensus,” she said.
If Taiwan has an obscure, unclear or hesitant attitude on the 1992 consensus, it would face a tough international situation, Hung said while attending an event yesterday morning to promote a new fan club established by teachers who support her.
A day after rumors that she might be replaced as the KMT candidate dominated headlines once again, Hung seemed to be emotional at the morning event, choking back tears as she delivered her speech.
She said she wants to “make ‘good’ society’s highest moral value, change the party and point out a right path for the country.”
“All the ridicule, taunts and assaults cannot stop me from presenting a plan to change the country’s destiny,” she said.
Saying that she is overwhelmed with various emotions when seeing the effort made by so many educators while at the same time witnessing many who “deviate from good values,” Hung said the adults must re-establish virtues before handing the nation over to the next generation.
“Just as seeing fireworks does not mean happiness, it is not right to accuse something you disagree with of being ‘black-boxed,’” Hung said.
The rumors that she might be replaced were simply part of a vicious scheme by the opposition, she said.
In the afternoon, Hung made an appearance at KMT rally in Taoyuan, but five of the six KMT legislators who represent the municipality were conspicuous by their absence. KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) was the only one in attendance, since he also serves as director of the KMT’s Taoyuan chapter, but his support for Hung appeared lukewarm at best.
Hung “has to fight for support from the people with her own speech” and “if they do not support [her], I am not to blame,” Chen said in his speech to the rally.
Afterward, Hung said it is not just words that matter, “as pretty words are of no use if you are not sincere or without real actions.”
Chinese-language media reports saw Chen and Hung’s comments as bickering and an indication of a souring relationship.
However, Chen dismissed such interpretations, saying his “set [was misinterpreted as] spike [as in volleyball]” and calling on the media to have a sense of humor.
The so-called 1992 consensus, a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted to making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with
each side havingits own interpretation of what “China” means.
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