TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong stressed the significance of cross-strait tourism cooperation in a radio interview on Tuesday (Nov. 28). He suggested that Taiwan should not only focus on profits from Chinese tourists but also enable mainland visitors to understand the country's strengths.
Jaw shared experiences of interacting with mainland tourists at Taroko Gorge, noting their positive impressions of Taiwan. He believes that opening up to tourism could help mainland Chinese appreciate the progress and friendliness of Taiwanese society.
The KMT candidate criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for promoting hostility toward the mainland. Jaw challenged the DPP to suspend the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) if it is truly bold and advocated for Taiwan to seek economic benefits from Japan and the United States instead.
Jaw also responded to accusations by Yao Li-ming, the campaign director of DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, alleging that he was spreading war rhetoric. Jaw clarified that it was U.S. officials and the military who discussed the possibility of war and were selling urban warfare weapons to Taiwan, not him.
Also, Jaw highlighted the DPP's decision to place Puma Shen, founder of Kuma Academy — an organization aimed at equipping Taiwanese people with military skills — as the second candidate on the DPP's list for at-large legislative seats. He argued that despite the DPP's claims of avoiding provocation, their actions indicate otherwise.
Jaw condemned the DPP for consistently using the slogan "resist China, protect Taiwan," accusing them of hypocrisy. He pointed out their claims of willingness to reopen dialogue while simultaneously criticizing the mainland daily.