Radio Taiwan InternationalDate: 2017-06-26
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je is featured in this CNA file photo.

Taipei’s annual twin-cities forum with Shanghai is scheduled to take place this coming weekend. The

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je is featured in this CNA file photo.

forum, which will take place this year in Shanghai, has garnered special attention in the face of stalled relations between Taiwan and China.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je has called for “mutual understanding” between the two sides. At an event on Monday morning he said that each side has its own difficulties, and that under the current impasse, nothing can be accomplished. Ko said that continuing to criticize the other side only makes it harder to find common ground. He called for each side to take a step back in order to create a space in which change can occur.

The recent break in ties with Panama, which opted to establish formal ties with China instead, has added to cross-strait tensions. When asked whether attending the forum was tantamount to handing control of the situation over to China, Ko responded by saying that a bad strategy is the best strategy when there are no other options.    [FULL  STORY]