2023-02-06
Andrew Hsia to Visit China – DPP: Is the KMT Presidential Candidate Looking for China’s Approval?
KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia is expected to, once again, lead a delegation to China February 8. Regarding this, the DPP stated today (February 6) that, even after his visit to China last year at a time when the Chinese Communist Party was conducting military exercises around Taiwan, the CCP’s efforts to strong-arm Taiwan persist. The DPP would like to remind the KMT: Do not unwittingly, or willingly, step into the CCP’s United Front framework; heed the will of the people and demand that the CCP immediately cease their irrational behavior toward Taiwan.
Early this year Song Tao, the newly appointed director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, clearly expressed his intent to engage like-minded Taiwanese in thorough and extensive discussions about cross-strait relations and unification, based on the “One China Principle” and “1992 Consensus.” Hsia, leading a delegation to China at this time, will likely step into China’s imposed political framework and his trip may be seen as an endorsement of Xi Jinping’s “One Country, Two Systems model for Taiwan.”
The DPP also pointed out that not only does China continue to browbeat Taiwan; it has also recently spawned turmoil in the international community. After the recent Chinese spy-balloon episode, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken elected to delay his visit to China. Hsia’s trip to China at this moment will likely cause the international community to make an unwarranted association between Taiwan and China. As China continues to militarily coerce Taiwan and attempt to impose a mandatory political framework, the DPP urges, Hsia must not discard Taiwan’s interests and surrender to China.
In August 2022, then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, whereupon China initiated encircling military exercises around the island. During this tense period, Hsia still insisted on leading a delegation to China. This caused utter dismay among the Taiwanese people, and, worse, propagated the political misconception that Taiwan is ready to submit to China. Yet now, as every political party is gearing up for the 2024 presidential primaries, Hsia’s seeming eagerness to visit China again begs the question: Is he trying to help KMT Chairman Eric Chu's presidential campaign test the waters with the CCP? Or must the KMT’s presidential candidate win the approval of Xi?
The DPP emphasizes: Cross-strait dialogue must be predicated on reciprocity, mutual respect, democratic principles and parity; the two sides must seek to responsibly address mutual differences. The DPP believes that as the Covid pandemic abates and both sides–as well as the international community–gradually open up, we should work together to determine how to promote healthy and orderly post-pandemic cross-strait exchanges. Such exchanges will serve as an important foundation for ensuring the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait relations.
