NPP calls for stricter checks on politician’s visits to China

NPP calls for stricter checks on politician’s visits to China

2022-08-16

The New Power Party on Tuesday held a press conference calling on the government to implement stricter controls on visits to China by Taiwanese politicians. The proposal comes after the KMT sent a delegation to China last week led by KMT Vice Chair Andrew Hsia. The visit has been slammed by officials from all major parties, including the KMT. Premier Su Tseng-chang, for example, has said the delegation is essentially colluding with the enemy. But some, like KMT Vice Chair Sean Lien, say Hsia is doing the right thing by not giving in to public humiliation.

KMT Vice Chair Andrew Hsia last week led a delegation on a trip to China. Questioning his motives for crossing the strait at such a critical juncture, the New Power Party says the government should strengthen control on China visits.

Chiu Hsieh-chih
New Power Party lawmaker
These high-ranking KMT officials have paid no mind to these criticisms, and are going ahead with the visit. We must question, who is this visit benefiting? The KMT is dashing to visit China. Is it because they are worried that they are losing influence? Is that why they are rushing to reaffirm their loyalty to China?

Hsia’s delegation is scheduled to start its China itinerary on Aug. 21, after they are released from quarantine. Reports say Hsia had initially planned to meet with Wang Yang, the chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as well as Liu Jieyi, the head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office. The meetings were reportedly replaced with events with Taiwanese businesspeople in China to reduce public backlash in Taiwan. Even then, opposition to the visit is coming from all sides in Taiwan. Within the KMT, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and five other candidates running for mayor or commissioner have voiced opposition to the visit. Meanwhile Taipei mayoral candidate Chiang Wan-an has said that the itinerary should be made public and transparent, and that Hsia should protest China’s military drills.

Chiang Wan-an
Taipei mayoral candidate (KMT)
I strongly advise Vice Chair Hsia to clearly express our opposition to China’s military drills during his visit.

But not all within the KMT have reservations. Fellow KMT Vice Chair Sean Lien has voiced his full support for Hsia. He says that Hsia’s decision to visit at a time of heightened cross-strait tensions while “carrying a heavy burden” and “enduring public humiliation” was the right thing to do.

Su Tseng-chang
Premier
A political party puts together a delegation to go to the enemy camp and exchange information. What is this so-called “humiliation?” What’s the “heavy burden?” It’s ludicrous. Even the KMT’s candidates for the upcoming election keep saying that it’s a kind of surrender. It’s inappropriate. The KMT should wake up and stop dancing to China’s fiddle.

Premier Su Tseng-chang slammed Lien, saying that Hsia was colluding with the enemy, and urging the KMT to wake up.