TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's main opposition party on Monday (Jan. 26) dismissed as baseless a news report claiming Beijing had rejected the restart of the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum due to insufficient efforts by the Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) to block military purchases. KMT Vice Chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) acknowledged the party's plans to restart the event, also known as the KMT-CCP Forum, under the leadership of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文),
Liberty Times (自由時報) reported on Sunday that the KMT had repeatedly communicated its desire to hold the forum before the Lunar New Year, Taiwan's most important annual holiday. Beijing reportedly rejected these overtures, citing insufficient efforts to block military purchases. The report has sparked controversy and denials from KMT officials, who have called the claims politically motivated.
Hsiao promised the party will soon clarify the situation, stating, "We'll see who's lying then," during an interview on a radio program. Hsiao argued that the KMT's plans to visit China, engage think tanks, and potentially arrange a meeting between Cheng and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) are unrelated to military purchases and require no conditions or entry tickets. The vice chairman emphasized that cross-strait exchanges should proceed without preconditions.
Hsiao underscored that cross-strait relations should not be viewed as relations between two countries, a position consistent with the KMT's stance on Taiwan-China relations. Reflecting on past interactions, Hsiao noted that former KMT leaders, including former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Lien Chan (連戰), Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), and Eric Chu (朱立倫), visited China without any implications for military purchases. These visits occurred under various political circumstances over the past two decades.