Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Stronger exchanges and dialogue between the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang will have an important and positive impact on safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday when asked what message the mainland hoped to convey through the invitation to Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun to visit the mainland.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Zhang took four questions from Taiwan media regarding Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun's upcoming visit to the mainland, according to the transcript on the press conference from the office. 

When asked about Chinese mainland's expectation for Cheng's visit, what issues will both sides focus on, and whether specific cross-Straits cooperation arrangements will be touched during the upcoming visit to the mainland by Cheng, Zhang said that since taking the position, Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun has on many occasions expressed her wish to visit the mainland. 

To promote relations between the CPC and the Kuomintang and the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations,  Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, have invited Cheng, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, to visit the Chinese mainland from April 7 to 12 to Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing. Cheng expressed her thanks and gladly accepted the invitation. "We will maintain communication with the Kuomintang side regarding her visit and make proper arrangements," said Zhang.

During the press conference, Taiwan regional media outlet "China Times" reporter asked that when the mainland plans to arrange a meeting between leaders of the two parties and given that the Taiwan Straits have long been viewed by the outside world as a factor of regional instability, what message does the mainland hope to send through this invitation and whether this visit will be interpreted as indicating that the CPC leadership intends to open a new mode of dialogue with the new generation of the Kuomintang, and is it possible to expect CPC-KMT exchanges to return to a normalized footing.

The reporter also asked that Taiwan will hold its nine-in-one local elections at the end of this year and if Cheng's visit fails to bring about concrete and immediate benefits in areas such as lifting restrictions on agricultural and fishery products or addressing economic and trade issues, is the mainland concerned that this could negatively affect the Kuomintang's electoral prospects, or even further stigmatize cross-Straits party-to-party exchanges in Taiwan society? The reporter also asked that how mainland view the Kuomintang's current "balancing strategy" among the mainland, the US and Taiwan. At a time when mainstream public opinion in Taiwan is changing, will the mainland consider adopting new narratives that resonate more with Taiwan's younger generation and proposing a "new solution" to ease the cross-Straits crisis?

Zhang responded that "We attach great importance to Chairperson Cheng's visit to the mainland leading a KMT delegation, and we will make proper arrangements for all related activities."

The Chinese Kuomintang chairperson's visit after a lapse of 10 years is an important part of CPC-KMT exchanges and dialogue under the new circumstances. It meets the needs of the development of cross-Straits relations, accords with the common wishes of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, and serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. Stronger exchanges and dialogue between the CPC and the Kuomintang will have an important and positive impact on safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. 

On the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," we are willing to strengthen exchanges, maintain sound interaction, and jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations together with all political parties, groups, and people from all sectors in Taiwan, including the KMT, so as to benefit compatriots on both sides of the Straits, said Zhang.

Peace, development, exchange, and cooperation represent the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan society. Political parties and politicians who follow public opinion and do what should be done will, we believe, win the recognition and support of the Taiwan public. People on both sides of the Straits are all Chinese and belong to one family. Affairs across the Straits are family matters for compatriots on both sides and should naturally be discussed and handled by family members themselves. Chinese people on both sides of the Straits are fully wise and capable enough to resolve their own affairs well and to safeguard and build their common home, said the spokesperson. 

In response to another media inquiry on the arrangements for Cheng's visit to the mainland, Zhang said that the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping have invited Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng to lead a delegation to visit the mainland. This will point the way forward, open up broad space, and inject strong impetus for relations between the two parties and cross-Straits relations to develop along the correct direction. It reflects the responsibility and commitment of the CPC and the Kuomintang to seek peace for the Taiwan Straits, wellbeing for compatriots, and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. 

We have always upheld the concept that compatriots on both sides of the Straits are one family, and will continue to support and promote cross-Straits personnel exchanges and cooperation across various fields, enhance family ties and wellbeing among compatriots on both sides, and realize their aspiration for a better life, said Zhang.

While, during the press conference, a reporter from Taiwan media outlet ETToday said that after the mainland announced Cheng's upcoming visit, a spokesperson for the US Department of State claimed that meaningful cross-Straits exchanges should focus on dialogue between mainland leaders and Taiwan's democratically elected government without preconditions, and this also includes the mainland's interactions with other political parties in Taiwan. The US supports dialogue across the Taiwan Straits and expects differences to be resolved peacefully, without coercion, and in a manner acceptable to people on both sides of the Straits.

In response, Zhang said Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are one family, and matters concerning the two sides should be discussed and handled by compatriots on both sides together. We are fully capable and wise enough to resolve our own issues and to safeguard and build our common home, Zhang said.

History and reality have shown that as long as the 1992 Consensus is upheld and "Taiwan independence" is opposed, the Taiwan Straits can remain peaceful and stable, and Taiwan compatriots can benefit from it. Otherwise, the Straits will fall into tension and turbulence, said Zhang.

We are willing, on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," to strengthen exchanges and maintain positive interactions with all political parties, groups, and people from all sectors in Taiwan, including the Chinese Kuomintang, so as to seek peace for the Taiwan Straits, wellbeing for compatriots, and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, Zhang said. 

Global Times