Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) today said she plans to visit Beijing and Washington in the first half of next year, but would prioritize Beijing, as meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) would carry significance.
In a radio interview, Cheng said she plans to make these trips in the first half of the year, as she would be busy campaigning for local elections later in the year.
As she is unlikely to make many trips to the US, she said she hopes to stay for a longer period and visit both the east and west coasts.
Photo: Taipei Times
However, she added that she would prioritize Beijing since the world is paying close attention to whether cross-strait relations are based on the so-called “1992 consensus” and opposition to Taiwanese independence, as during former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) eight years in office.
The “1992 consensus” — a term that former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000 — refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
The Democratic Progressive Party has never acknowledged the “1992 consensus,” saying that Beijing does not recognize the Republic of China and acceptance of the understanding would imply agreement with China’s claim over Taiwan.
Meeting with Xi would carry strategic significance and convey important information, so it makes sense to go to Beijing before the US, Cheng said.
The American Institute in Taiwan has been in close contact with the KMT representative in the US, so Washington is aware of the plans and there is no issue, she said.
Cheng vowed to visit other countries if time allows, otherwise she would make more trips after the local elections in November next year.
Discussing the local elections, Cheng said that the KMT still needs to coordinate in Yilan, Hsinchu and Changhua counties, as well as Chiayi and Taichung.
As for New Taipei City, she said internal party coordination could likely avoid a primary, adding that Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) is still working at the Taipei City Government.
Hopefully, the KMT would maintain its leadership in the cities and counties it currently governs, Cheng said, but added that this would be challenging.
The party also hopes to break through in southern Taiwan, which is why it announced candidates early for the leaders of Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, she added.
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