Amid the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) ongoing secessionist activities, there have been some noteworthy positive activities in April for the revival of cross-strait exchanges, highlighting the enormous implications for future cross-strait ties and emphasizing the idea that friends and family on both sides of the Strait have similar and common origins, objectives, ancestors, and cultures. These initiatives precede the official inauguration of secessionist regional leader-elect Lai Ching-te on May 20, which send a strong message that people on both sides will not put up with any form of secession and anti-mainland activities on the island.
Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi led a 25-member KMT delegation to the mainland from April 26–28, following a significant visit to mainland from April 1-11 by Ma Ying-jeou, the former chairman of KMT. The delegation’s goals were to promote peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and deepen cross-Straits understanding. It’s amazing how this kind of ongoing communication can strengthen ties and hasten the final unification of the island and mainland. People on the Island are engaged in a realistic cross-strait collaboration through party-to-party interaction, economic ventures, youth and student exchanges, cultural exchanges, and personal interactions, despite the DPP’s pervasive animosity and plot against the mainland.
Before leaving Taoyuan International Airport, veteran KMT lawmaker Fu stated that the trip represents the voice of the Taiwanese people and the largest party in the legislature, that it is the voice of the entire island’s society despite DPP secessions and propaganda apparatus, and an unjustified interference by external forces led by the US
These kinds of exchanges progressively assist both parties in realizing their shared cultural identity and profound origins. They must uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus and steadfastly oppose separatist activities advocating for so-called “Taiwan independence” as well as interference from outside forces, since people on both sides of the Straits are related and speak the same language, making it particularly simple for them to empathize with one another.
To be honest, I think his visit only serves to highlight the islanders’ continued strong desire for integrated development, smooth trade activities, peaceful people-to-people exchanges, especially between the CPC and KMT, and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. It is important to note that the visit is a direct result of the consensuses that President Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou struck during a pivotal meeting on April 10 about the future of cross-strait relations.
Both trips are so fruitful and beneficial for cross-strait communication that they will act as a spark to encourage individual exchanges, tourism, trade, and investment. Ma’s visit is crucial to futuristic youth exchanges. One of the positive direct results of the Chi’s visit, for example, has been to pave the path for the promotion of cross-strait tourism. Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Rao Quan announced that the Chinese mainland intends to permit residents of Fujian to resume group travel to Taiwan and tourist visits to the Matsu islands once the direct sea route between Pingtan Island and Taiwan reopens. Individual travel permits were suspended in August 2019.
Additionally, the Chinese mainland will let some imports from the island of Taiwan, potentially facilitating the transfer of Taiwanese seafood and agricultural goods to the Chinese mainland. These are the genuine “good will” gestures coming from the mainland to support stability across the strait. Compatriots on the island will understand how the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle, which promote actively promote normal and economic contacts, cooperation, and integrated development across the straits.
The delegation learned about new energy vehicle materials and technologies as well as the AI industry by visiting Beijing’s Economic-Technological Development Area and an operating center in the city’s high-level autopilot demonstration zone, respectively. This is helpful in broadening the islanders’ view of the mainland’s potential for new quality productive forces. After returning to the island, the delegation team will encourage the island’s residents and enterprises involved in the automotive and AI industries to invest in Mainland’s promising emerging industries and boost demand for green energy vehicles from the mainland. Due to their great quality and low price, Chinese green energy and artificial intelligence are entering a new age of supply chains, global competition, and demand. By encouraging cross-strait collaboration and integration on the Mainland’s NEVs industry and AI sectors, businesses on the island may take advantage of this unrealized potential. The island should see a rise in the popularity of Mainland’s products.
The exchanges and Mainland’s opening up will be a crucial turning point for cross-strait ties. Taiwan’s investments, youth exchanges, and cross-strait trade will contribute to unification gradually, ensuring peace across the Straits. China’s commitment to peaceful reunification and “One Country, Two Systems” is also crucial.
As a result, all Chinese from mainland and island should back Ma and Chi’s initiatives to strengthen links across the Strait, and both sides of the Strait should take advantage of this wonderful chance to create a more prosperous and peaceful future for the whole Chinese people. The moment has come to set off on a path that will benefit all parties involved and lead to wealth, harmony, and lasting peace.
