“Ever since then-KMT chairman Lien Chan embarked on his journey of peace to the mainland in 2005, the Lien family has sent their sons and daughters in rotation to visit their great-grandmother’s grave around the tomb-sweeping festival every year,” the office said, referring to last month’s Ching Ming Festival.
It said the trip had not been possible in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the focus of Sean Lien’s visit would be to pay respects to his ancestor, with no plans to meet “friends”.
Sean Lien’s father, Lien Chan, met then-Chinese president Hu Jintao during a historic mainland trip in 2005. It was the first meeting between leaders of the KMT and its long-time rival the Communist Party since 1949, when the KMT was defeated by the communists in a civil war and fled to Taiwan.
Last month, Ma became the first former Taiwanese leader to visit the mainland since 1949. During his 12-day trip he called for more exchanges and a resumption of dialogue to pave the way for the peaceful development of cross-strait ties.
Beijing sees Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under mainland control. It suspended official exchanges with self-ruled Taiwan after Tsai Ing-wen – of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party – was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. Most countries do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state but are opposed to a change of the status quo by force.
Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC, called for the party’s policy to be faithfully implemented to “resolve the Taiwan question in the new era”. Photo: Bloomberg
At a meeting on Taiwan affairs in Beijing on Wednesday, Wang – chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – called for the Communist Party’s policy to be faithfully implemented to “resolve the Taiwan question in the new era”.
Wang also said the one-China principle and 1992 consensus should be upheld to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. He was referring to a 1992 verbal understanding that there is only “one China” but each side can have its own interpretation of what that means.
“Cross-strait exchanges should be restored and expanded step by step, and friendship with people from all social strata in Taiwan should be cultivated,” Wang said.
“Efforts should be made to show respect and care for Taiwan compatriots, deliver benefits to them, improve systems and policies that contribute to their well-being, and advance integrated development of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
Wang also voiced Beijing’s opposition to “Taiwan independence” and to “external interference in affairs related to Taiwan” and called for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of China to be protected.
