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Taiwan
ChinaPolitics

KMT’s Fu Kun-chi returns to ‘flashpoint’ Taiwan with peace mission for island’s next president

  • William Lai must deflect the risk of war by improving relations with mainland China, Fu says after trip to Beijing
  • ‘We do not wish for our children to shed blood for the Democratic Progressive Party,’ he says

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Fu Kun-chi (centre front), the legislative caucus leader of the main opposition Kuomintang, returns from the mainland. Photo: CNA
Lawrence Chungin Taipei
Taiwanese president-elect William Lai Ching-te must “courageously” confront the pressing need to improve cross-strait exchanges to fend off the risk of war, a senior opposition lawmaker said on Monday after a trip to the mainland.
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Describing the Taiwan Strait as a “flashpoint” of potential conflict, Fu Kun-chi, the legislative caucus leader of the main opposition Kuomintang, said Lai and his incoming administration should seize the opportunity to ease tension with Beijing.

“We recognise that the world sees the Taiwan Strait as the next flashpoint [after Gaza and Ukraine], potentially leading to conflict. We do not wish for our children to shed blood for the Democratic Progressive Party,” Fu said, referring to Lai’s independence-leaning party.

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Fu issued the call after he and 16 KMT lawmakers returned to Taipei from their three-day trip to the mainland.

During the visit, Beijing signalled goodwill with plans to ease restrictions on group travel to Taiwan and to resume imports of certain food products from the island.

Cross-strait relations have deteriorated over the past eight years since the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen was elected the island’s president.
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In that time, Tsai has refused to accept the one-China principle, which Beijing sees as the foundation for any communication between the two sides. In response, the mainland suspended official exchanges with Taiwan and escalated pressure on the island, through military, diplomatic and economic measures.

“We should initiate extensive and inclusive efforts to promote exchanges, foster mutual understanding, mitigate misunderstandings, and ensure that all Taiwanese citizens can live and work peacefully and prosperously,” Fu said.

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