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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

KMT Chairwoman Koo: Cross-Strait Dialogue Must Oppose Taiwan Independence

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cecilia Koo met with Lyle Goldstein, Director of Asian Affairs at the US think tank Defense Priorities, to discuss cross-strait relations.
  • Koo stated that dialogue on cross-strait relations must be based on opposing Taiwan independence to reduce tensions, aligning with the strategic interests of the US, China, and Taiwan.
  • The KMT believes that Taiwanese public opinion has shifted towards desiring peace and stability, and is confident in winning the 2028 general election.

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cecilia Koo met with Lyle Goldstein, Director of Asian Affairs at the US think tank Defense Priorities, to discuss cross-strait relations. Koo emphasized that dialogue must be based on opposing Taiwan independence to reduce tensions, a stance she believes aligns with the strategic interests of the US, China, and Taiwan.

Facing cross-strait relations, dialogue must be rational on the basis of opposing Taiwan independence to reduce tensions, which aligns with the common strategic interests of the US, China, and Taiwan.

— Cecilia KooKMT Chairwoman Cecilia Koo's statement on cross-strait relations during a meeting with Lyle Goldstein.

During their lunch meeting on June 4th, both Koo and Goldstein agreed that actively reducing geopolitical conflict risks and preventing military war are the top priorities for maintaining peace in the region and the international community. The KMT released a statement highlighting this shared conviction, noting that their fathers both had military backgrounds, which fostered a deeper understanding of the desire for peace.

Koo shared her perspective on Taiwan's recent political landscape, suggesting that the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) use of an "anti-China" platform in the 2020 presidential election successfully attracted young voters. However, she argued that over the past four years, young Taiwanese have seen through the DPP's focus on political gain over cross-strait security. This, she contends, led to millions of young voters abandoning the DPP in the 2024 election, indicating a significant shift in mainstream public opinion towards a desire for peace, stability, and prosperity.

Actively reducing geopolitical conflict risks and fully avoiding military war are the top priorities for the current cross-strait and international community to maintain peace.

— Cecilia Koo and Lyle GoldsteinShared view expressed during their lunch meeting.

With this perceived public shift, Koo expressed confidence in the opposition's strong foundation for cooperation in the legislature and local governments. The KMT is optimistic about winning the 2028 general election and returning to power, based on what they see as a popular demand for a different approach to cross-strait relations.

The Taiwanese youth have seen through the DPP's focus on political interests over cross-strait security.

— Cecilia KooKoo's analysis of the shift in young voters' sentiment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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