By Shannon Tiezzi
Xi denounced Taiwan independence and stressed the importance of the 1992 consensus in a veiled message to Taiwan’s DPP.
In a discussion with members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations – and for “high vigilance” against Taiwan independence.
According to Xinhua, Xi made the remarks to political advisers from the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK), the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSGL) and the All China Confederation of Taiwan Compatriots (ACFTC). The RCCK and TDSGL are two of the eight legally permitted minority parties in China. The RCCK was formed in 1948 by leftists who split from the main Kuomintang Party (which now rules on Taiwan), while the TDSGL mostly consists of Taiwanese or those with Taiwanese heritage who now live on the Chinese mainland. The ACFTC, also composed mostly of native Taiwanese who now live on the mainland, is a “people’s group” rather than a party, but has representation on the CPPCC National Committee. All three organizations are tasked with fostering a positive cross-strait relationship; they are also used to showcase Taiwanese representation at China’s annual CPPCC meetings.
In his remarks, Xi urged all Taiwanese to “safeguard” peace in general and specifically the peaceful development of cross-strait ties. He called on both sides of the strait to “unswervingly pursue peaceful development … [and] unswervingly adhere to the common political basis.”
Along with this affirmation of cross-strait ties came a stern rejection of “the separatist forces of the ‘Taiwan independence.’” Xi called Taiwan independence forces “the biggest hindrance for the peaceful development of the cross-strait ties” and the “biggest threat of the cross-strait stability [sic].” Taiwan independence “should be resolutely opposed,” Xi said, calling it a “threat [to] the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat