Koo Warns Lai's Policies Push Taiwan Toward War, Advocates '1992 Consensus' for Peace

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cecilia Koo has consistently criticized President Lai Ching-te's policies, asserting that his rejection of the "1992 Consensus" and embrace of "new two-state theory" are leading Taiwan to the brink of war. Koo has repeatedly called for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to abandon its "Taiwan independence" party platform and recognize the "1992 Consensus." She frequently invokes the risks of a Taiwan Strait conflict and warns against Taiwan becoming another Ukraine, a tactic some observers suggest aims to galvanize KMT voters.

This strategy echoes past KMT campaigns. Before the 2016 presidential election, the party heavily emphasized cross-strait relations crises and defending the Republic of China, arguing that KMT governance ensured stability. Former President Ma Ying-jeou had stressed that deviating from the "1992 Consensus, with each side having its own interpretation" would destabilize cross-strait relations and international standing.

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The 'Taiwan independence' two words destroy Taiwan's security, and the two-state theory directly pushes Taiwan to the brink of war.

During her campaign for KMT chair last year, Koo highlighted the risks of a Taiwan Strait war and the potential for Taiwan to become like Ukraine. When China conducted military drills around Taiwan late last year, Koo urged Beijing not to resort to military action and called on the DPP government to accept the "1992 Consensus" and publicly oppose "Taiwan independence." She also criticized President Lai's announcement of a NT$1.25 trillion special defense budget, claiming it turned Taiwan into a "powder keg" and "arms factory," questioning if future economic development should be predicated on war. However, the KMT and other parties later jointly proposed a NT$780 billion military procurement budget, with the KMT affirming its support for military purchases and national defense.

During her April visit to China, Koo emphasized that opposing "Taiwan independence" could prevent war, suggesting the "1992 Consensus" could foster peace. Meeting with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, she stated that both sides should seek institutional solutions to prevent war, aiming to make the Taiwan Strait a model for peaceful conflict resolution. She expressed hope for the KMT and CCP to jointly promote institutionalized cross-strait peace.

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We cannot wait until the last moment when it's too late to call for peace. It will be too late when missiles are already flying.

On the second anniversary of President Lai's inauguration, Koo asserted that the KMT must play a crucial role in changing the "destiny of war," emphasizing peace as the only choice. She argued that cross-strait peace is achievable through accepting the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence." She accused the Lai administration of irresponsibly pushing cross-strait relations toward war through its political gambles, labeling it the true troublemaker for regional peace.

During her June visit to the United States, Koo promoted her "Chain of Peace and Prosperity," aiming to transform anxieties about war into constructive peace efforts for a future free from fear. At various events, she repeatedly stressed that President Lai's "new two-state theory" created a constant risk of war. Upon returning to Taiwan, she reiterated that current cross-strait relations are tense and that delaying calls for peace until it's too late, like when missiles are flying, would be catastrophic. She warned that war in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating for the entire world, far exceeding the severity of the Russia-Ukraine or US-Iran wars. Koo insisted the KMT must demonstrate that a peaceful option still exists and convince the world to choose peace over war. She urged President Lai to abandon the "Taiwan independence" party platform, move toward cross-strait peace, and accept the "1992 Consensus" in line with the Republic of China's constitution, questioning why this is so difficult.

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Is it that difficult to abandon the 'Taiwan independence' party platform and move towards cross-strait peace, accepting the '1992 Consensus' that conforms to the Constitution of the Republic of China?