TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je said on Friday (March 15) that he saw no reason to decline an invitation extended by President Tsai Ing-wen.
In a press briefing, he stated his support for partisan reconciliation, social harmony, and cross-strait peace, adding that he similarly endorses creating a political communication platform.
President Tsai had invited Ko on the previous day to a dialogue on critical national issues, which has stirred considerable attention. Ko also expressed willingness to meet and discuss this with Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Lai Ching-te if invited.
Deep conversations on a political communication platform, social safety net, labor pension reform, and defense budget, amongst other pivotal national issues, were held between Tsai and Ko inside the presidential office. This is Tsai and Ko's first publicly shared meeting since 2018, resulting in heightened public interest.
Ko revealed that Tsai had personally called him on Lunar New Year's Day earlier this year, expressing eagerness for a face-to-face dialogue and the intent to establish a political communication platform. He insists that even as the opposition, there is a responsibility to oversee the ruling party and considers establishing a political communication platform beneficial and necessary.
When asked about hesitance before his agreement due to public critique and long periods of no contact between him and Tsai, Ko laughed it off as an attempt to sow discord. He dismissed speculation suggesting this meeting is paving the way for a party collaboration for the 2026 elections, deeming such conjecture premature and stating that other matters could be discussed later.