2023-07-04
Bipartisan U.S. Congressional-Staff Delegation Visits DPP, Discusses National-Security and Election
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressional staff visited the Democratic Progressive Party headquarters to discuss issues pertaining to international affairs, cross-strait relations and Taiwan’s coming 2024 presidential election.
Yesterday evening, the DPP, represented by Deputy Secretary-General Yang Yi-shan, along with Party Spokesperson and Director of International Affairs Peifen Hsieh and Director of China Affairs Wu Jun-zhi, welcomed the visiting delegation from the U.S. During the meeting, Yang emphasized that 2024 will be a critical year for both Taiwan and the U.S. due to their respective presidential elections. Given today’s cross-strait relations, the region has garnered considerable international attention recently. With China, Taiwan remains committed to resolving mutual differences by peaceful means to achieve a win-win situation in the future.
Yang also brought up the critical role the U.S. has played in the security framework of the Taiwan Strait and broader Indo-Pacific region in recent years. The leaders of neighboring countries such as South Korea and the Philippines, during visits to Washington, have jointly issued statements firmly opposing any unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. In addition to maintaining the status quo in the Strait, Taiwan also seeks to strengthen ties with the U.S. in various aspects.
Spokesperson Peifen Hsieh further elaborated that for the coming 2024 presidential election, each candidate’s stance on cross-strait relations is of utmost importance. The DPP’s position is that Taiwan already exists as an independent sovereign state with no need to formally declare independence. By contrast, KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih released a statement accepting the “1992 Consensus”—one that is in line with the Constitution of the Republic of China. The terms of that supposed consensus, however, contradict mainstream public opinion in Taiwan. As early as in 2019, Xi Jinping has defined the “1992 Consensus” as “one country, two systems,” and KMT Chairman Eric Chu has publicly described the “1992 Consensus” as a “consensus without a consensus.” It is therefore unclear in which direction Hou wishes to take Taiwan.
Regarding Chinese interference in Taiwan’s elections, Hsieh shared with the delegation that the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to influence our elections by exploiting our democratic and transparent political system. According to the Political Donations Act, the source of political donations from each candidate must be reported to the authorities concerned and disclosed. Two years ago, the CCP fined certain Taiwanese companies under the pretext of “backing Taiwanese independence,” causing Taiwanese individuals with business dealings in China to self-censor. A chilling effect was thus achieved. This is a prime example of the CCP’s exploitation of Taiwan’s democratic mechanism to undermine our democracy.
Meanwhile Wu, director of China Affairs, stated that China’s disruption of the status quo was the cause of tensions in the Strait. Since Xi Jinping became leader of China in 2012, Beijing has constantly sought to annex Taiwan through the “one country, two systems” model, which completely contravenes mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.
According to Wu, China's best strategy for attaining its objectives is to change the political landscape in Taiwan, making conditions more favorable to their policy of absorbing Taiwan. Through a carrot-and-stick policy, the powers that be in China aim to intimidate Taiwanese society while rewarding those within it who are willing to cooperate with them. The biggest challenge the DPP faces in this election cycle is China’s use of assorted means to propagate messages aimed at dissuading individuals from voting for the party
