Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-06
By: Lo Yin-chung and Staff Reporter

The Taipei city government announced Aug. 5 that mayor Ko Wen-je will attend an

Ko Wen-je, right, meets Shanghai’s deputy mayor Weng Tiehui at Taipei City Hall, July 30. (Photo/China Times)

annual twin city forum in Shanghai later this year. The annual forum had been in jeopardy when Beijing slammed Ko for criticizing the 1992 Consensus, which Beijing insists upon as the foundation of cross-strait ties.

Ko has managed to turn the situation around however with expressions of goodwill in two interviews with Chinese media outlets, including the official Xinhua news agency, state broadcaster China Central Television and China Review news agency on March 31 and Aug. 3, which seem to have mollified Beijing.

Ko said he understands and respects the 1992 Consensus and stressed that he knows the difference between international affairs and mainland affairs. Although it would be difficult for Ko to publicly recognize the 1992 Consensus domestically, his position as an independent local government head offers Beijing an opportunity to create a new cross-strait exchange model.     [FULL  STORY]