TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Chen Binhua emphasized at a press conference Wednesday (Dec. 27) that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are crucial to Taiwanese well-being, with any form of turbulence potentially harmful.
Chen suggested that if Taiwan could insist on the 1992 Consensus and oppose Taiwan's independence, cross-strait relations could potentially return to a peaceful developmental track.
He also urged people on both sides of the Strait to jointly uphold peace and stability to facilitate cross-strait prosperity.
Chen's statement seems to echo recent remarks by Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih. Hou had recently vowed to foster deeper discussions, negotiations, and collaborations between mainland China and Taiwan if elected, aiming to ameliorate current cross-strait relations.
Chen revisited the peaceful development period from 2008 to 2016, stating that during these years, both sides staunchly adhered to the 1992 Consensus, opposing Taiwan's independence, and in doing so, jointly created a glorious history in cross-strait relations.
He went on to criticize the behavior of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) following its ascent to power in 2016.
Chen views the DPP as upholding Taiwan's independence, refusing to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, and colluding with "foreign forces."
This, he said, has triggered tension in cross-strait relations and made Taiwan a primary source of instability in the region.