CROSS-STRAIT CRISIS?The KMT chairwoman said that the incoming government’s China stance could see economic exchanges dwindle and a rise in military tensions

Taipei Times
Date: May 05, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff reporter

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday said she is worried about “cultural Taiwanese independence” that she said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration plans to promote after it takes office on May 20.

Hung said at a KMT Central Standing Committee meeting that with the DPP’s return to power and judging from remarks and the performances of incoming minister of culture Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) and incoming minister of education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠), policies of “de-Sinicization” and “cultural Taiwanese independence” are certain to be perpetuated.

“The two sides of the Taiwan Strait would not only lose their common political ground, a split in cultural identity would also be further widened, which would lead to a total collapse of the basis of the cross-strait relationship,” she said, adding that the cross-strait relationship would become one based on the distinction between enemies and friends, which would be disadvantageous to Taiwan.

Hung said that the fruit of KMT governance in the past eight years is evident, citing the number of cross-strait agreements signed and meetings held.

“The economic and trade exchanges between the two sides have brought enormous economic benefits, with the accompanying ease of military tensions and scorched-earth diplomacy, while Taiwan’s security, prosperity and dignity have been maintained,” she said.     [FULL  STORY]