Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday confirmed that he plans to meet Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) this week.
The meeting is to be conducted publicly to share the two parties’ thoughts on cooperation and priorities, he said.
Asked if the two parties would collaborate on the nominations for next year’s local elections, Huang said discussion on cooperation requires patience, sincerity and goodwill, adding that both parties have their own nomination process.
Photo: CNA
If both sides share the same attitude, the whole process should go smoothly, he said.
The TPP and KMT have the same goal, which is to make Taiwan a better place and give Taiwanese a better life, Huang said, adding that this is why the two parties are prioritizing a common vision for local governance and policy reform.
However, a more important issue to discuss is what actions the parties have to take to unite Taiwan as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continues to tear society apart and sow conflict among the public, he said.
The meeting is expected to take place at a third-party venue some time after Wednesday, following the style of Huang’s previous meeting with then-KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), a KMT source said.
Meanwhile, a DPP source yesterday said that Cheng and Huang have their own ulterior motives and are seeking to advance their interests.
Huang is looking to work with the KMT in next year’s New Taipei City mayoral election, aiming to secure an alliance, the source added.
However, Cheng might leverage her influence over electoral nominations to pull the TPP into endorsing her stance, the source said.
What most concerns the DPP is that Cheng opposes raising defense spending for asymmetric warfare, they said.
If Cheng manages to exploit Huang’s weak spot — the nomination for the New Taipei City mayoral election — the TPP could be led by the nose, potentially dealing a major blow to national security, they added.
Additional reporting by Lin Hsin-han and Chen Yun
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