Former legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday deflected questions on whether he turned down an offer to serve as Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman.
After months of equivocation and speculation, Wang, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator-at-large, continued to be vague on the issue, but showed his disinclination when answering questions about the SEF chairmanship.
When asked whether he has rejected President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) offer to assume the post, Wang said it was not appropriate for him to comment on the issue.
With the cross-strait relationship stalled, Wang said that while he understands both sides’ stances, he is “in no position to talk about the issue; this is a national policy and I have no right to intervene.”
Pressed on whether he thinks that cross-strait interactions would be difficult regardless of who is to head the foundation, Wang said, “I do not know; maybe someone else can do a better job.”
When asked yesterday afternoon whether it is true that he has turned down Tsai’s offer, Wang said that there was no such thing as turning down, as the administration’s decision “is to be respected.”
KMT Legislator Lee Yan-hsiu (李彥秀) said the greatest hurdle to the resumption of official cross-strait interaction is that China wants the so-called “1992 consensus” to be the foundation for cross-strait communication.
The “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese government that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
“If a new model that could be accepted by both sides of the Taiwan Strait fails to come up, no matter who heads [the SEF], even if it was Wang, there would be no chance for the cross-strait relationship to resume,” she added.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) interpreted the remarks differently, saying the sensitivity of the position would have KMT members believe that Wang, if he takes over the job, is to help Tsai reconnect the cross-strait communication channel.
For those KMT members who have already been suspicious about Wang’s fidelity to the party, “[accepting Tsai’s offer] would be a further mistake,” Gao said.
“I think he would not even accept to fill a seat on the SEF board or any other minor position,” Gao added.
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