OFFICIAL TALK:The former American Institute in Taiwan director said he hopes that Taiwan could find a way to resume the connections of the former KMT administration
Taipei Times
Date: Oct 15, 2017
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
Contrary to expectations, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not likely to change
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace vice president for studies Douglas Paal talks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
its cross-strait policy during its 19th National Congress, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace vice president for studies Douglas Paal said.
Paal, who served as director of the American Institute in Taiwan from 2002 to 2006, yesterday said that he reached the conclusion after speaking with several Chinese officials.
“I have been spending a lot of time trying to talk to people who have Taiwan-related positions in the People’s Republic of China’s official circles. So far they have been more reassuring than frightening in terms of continuity — no big changes,” Paal said on the sidelines of a meeting of Asia-Pacific think-tank leaders in Taipei organized by the Institute for National Policy Research.
However, it remains to be seen whether the officials’ view is in line with that of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), whose mandate is expected to be renewed at the congress in Beijing, he added. [FULL STORY]
