Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice presidential candidate and Broadcasting Corp of China chairman Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) on Wednesday said he would not talk with China about unification if elected, as there are no conditions for such discussions given the substantial differences between the two sides.
If elected, “I will definitely not engage in discussions with China about unification during my term; and this is also impossible,” Jaw told reporters when asked to respond to a statement by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) earlier on Wednesday.
At a regular news conference in Beijing, Chen said he hoped that Taiwanese would make more frequent statements conducive to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and engage in actions that enhance mutual trust and understanding.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Chen made the remarks in response to Jaw’s statement that the KMT does not endorse communism and has never supported the Chinese Communist Party, while further asserting that he “absolutely would not” advocate for negotiations on unification if elected.
Considering the current state of cross-strait relations, it would be a significant breakthrough if both sides reopen communication channels, said Jaw, the running mate of KMT presidential candidate and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜).
If the two sides resume dialogue and restore visits to Taiwan by Chinese tourists and students, as it had under former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), that would be a favorable development in cross-strait relations, Jaw said.
Speaking in favor of unification is not the only thing that could bring about peace and benefit cross-strait relations, he said.
Moreover, significant differences in political systems and way of life mean that discussing unification is simply not feasible, he added.
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