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KMT head emphasizes 'peace platform'

ROC Central News Agency

2016/11/01 21:03:49

Beijing, Nov. 1 (CNA) Taiwan's main opposition party head said on Tuesday that her party plans to promote a "peace platform" aimed at facilitating cross-strait stability and prosperity, which she contrasted with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's "independence platform."

Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) said, after her meeting with Communist Party of China head Xi Jinping (習近平), that she "fully expressed Taiwan's voice" to the Chinese leader, including Taiwan's hopes for continued cooperation with China.

She also called for China to support Taiwan's bid to participate in international affairs, as well as to increase the number of exchanges between young people in Taiwan and China.

Hung told the media, "I made a special call on behalf of the city of Taipei, inviting them to attend the 2017 Taipei Universiade" which will take place Aug. 19-30.

Hung's key proposal to her host was an undertaking that the KMT, which lost power to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the second time earlier this year, will put forth a "peace platform" to challenge the DPP's "independence platform."

Hung said the KMT's "peace platform" will seek to benefit people in Taiwan and China, in contrast to the DPP's "independence platform" that can only create danger and turmoil on both sides.

The KMT will also make further efforts to consolidate the "1992 consensus" as a foundation for the promotion of cross-strait peace and prosperity, Hung said.

How did she field the question of "one China" -- the cornerstone principle that the CPC demands the Taiwan government recognize in order for talks to resume?

Hung proposed a principle of "seeking agreement while shelving differences" on the complex issue.

The "1992 consensus" refers to a broad consensus between Taipei and Beijing that there is only one China in the world, but allows each side to maintain its own interpretation.

"We can agree on the 'one China' principle, but allow us to disagree on what it means," she said, adding that there is wisdom in this line of reasoning since the two governments have already signed many agreements based on their "1992 consensus."

Cross-strait relations have evolved from a tense standoff to joint efforts to seek peaceful development because in 1992, representatives from both governments -- Taiwan being then under the leadership of the KMT -- were able to reach such a consensus, Hung said.

"Institutionalized talks between the two sides has been possible because of mutual trust based on the 1992 consensus. Now that official channels of communication have been cut, it's our duty to keep working for the benefit of the people through the KMT-CPC channel," she said.

How did Xi respond to her long list of wishes and proposals? Tsai Cheng-yuan (蔡正元), a senior KMT official who was also present at the meeting, said Xi made the following comment on Hung's statement:

"Well said and good proposals too. We will carefully review Chairwoman Hung's views."

Steve Chan(詹啟賢), KMT vice chairman who was also a participant in the meeting, said Xi thought it was "very critical" to maintain peaceful development in cross-strait ties, to keep the KMT-CPC meeting going and to continue their cooperative ties.

(By Scarlett Chai, Hsieh Chia-chen and S.C. Chang)
Enditem/ AW /