Presidential candidates clash over cross-strait ties in TV presentation

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12/18
By: Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and her two challengers in the 2020 presidential race, Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) and James Soong (宋楚瑜), put forth widely differing views on cross-Taiwan Strait policy, in their first televised presentation of their campaign platforms Wednesday.

In his presentation, Han of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) reiterated his party's long-held position that adherence to the "1992 consensus" must be the basis for any interaction between Taiwan and China.

According to the KMT, the consensus refers to a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then-KMT government and the Chinese government that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means.

Responding to Han's comments on the issue, President Tsai said the "1992 consensus" was "a mere illusion" because China does not recognize the second part of the statement.    [FULL  STORY]