A delegation from Taiwan’s main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party — Kuomintang (KMT) — will travel to mainland China on Wednesday to meet with Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, in the face of rising tensions in the strait separating the two territories.
The formation has indicated in a statement that the trip to Beijing will last three days and will allow the parties to «exchange positions and dialogue» in an attempt to bring positions closer. Thus, it has pointed out that it is an «opportunity to understand the point of view and the needs of the Taiwanese population living in the mainland».
«The purpose of the visit is to address the needs of the Taiwanese people, reflect their views to the relevant authorities and carry out interactions with personnel involved in matters concerning cross-strait issues,» he said in a statement.
The Kuomintang has been in favor of closer ties with China, although it usually refuses to be pro-Beijing. As one of the island’s major political parties, it has stressed that there is a need to «try to reduce cross-strait tension to advance the interests of the people so that the parties can start a new era amicably.»
Relations between China and Taiwan were suspended in 1949 after the Kuomintang forces, led by Chiang Kai Shek, suffered a defeat in the civil war against the Communist Party of China and moved to the island of Taiwan. The Asian giant considers Taiwan as a rebel province, despite the fact that the island has declared its independence and has the support of the United States and the European Union.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
