Deputy Secretary General Hsu Meng-hsiang of the Labor Party in China's Taiwan region has voiced support for Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's visit to the Chinese mainland, calling it a step toward promoting peaceful development and closer cross-Strait interaction.
Cheng arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday, leading a KMT delegation. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday.
"We would like to express our sincere support [for the visit]. We look forward to this visit promoting deeper cross-Strait cooperation in areas such as people's livelihood, employment, and especially youth development," said Hsu in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) issued warnings and threats against Cheng's visit.
Hsu Meng-hsiang noted that the DPP authorities are deeply fearful of closer cross-Strait exchanges. Once tensions ease, the confrontational narrative they rely on will no longer hold.
"The DPP authorities' warnings and threats only expose their insecurity and sense of powerlessness. By exerting legal pressure and intimidation to cut off cross-Strait ties, they are acting against the tide of history and harming the interests of the people of Taiwan," he said.
In Nanjing on Tuesday, Cheng reiterated that the KMT will continue to uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose Taiwan secession, and play an important role in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.
"We must recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. This is both a historical fact and a legal foundation. Only by upholding this common ground can the two sides truly move beyond confrontation and enable compatriots in Taiwan to break free from the manipulation of external hegemony," said Hsu.
The KMT chairwoman was invited by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
After receiving the invitation, Cheng said that she hopes her visit would help usher in "a mild and warm spring" in cross-Strait relations.
"We hope that the 'spring' mentioned by Chairwoman Cheng represents a spring in which compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait join hands to oppose Taiwan secession and warmongering, and jointly promote peaceful development. We do not wish to see Taiwan continue serving as a cash cow for external forces, but rather to become a participant and beneficiary of national rejuvenation," said Hsu.
Taiwan political figure voices support for KMT chairwoman’s mainland visit
