Taipei: President Lai Ching-te, who also chairs the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) traded barbs on Wednesday over the two parties' cross-strait policies, with Lai accusing the KMT of undermining Taiwan's sovereignty and the KMT criticizing Lai for engaging in a smear campaign.
According to Focus Taiwan, during a question-and-answer session following a press event marking the second anniversary of his presidency, Lai was asked to comment on KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's approach to keeping Taiwan safe. Cheng had previously stated that Taiwan's national security should be based on a strong defense and stable cross-strait peace. In response, Lai argued that the KMT's actions, such as blocking a supplementary budget bill intended for U.S. arms sales and domestic weapon production, have severely impaired Taiwan's defense capabilities.
Lai criticized Cheng's recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting it compromised Taiwan's sovereignty by adhering to the "1992 Consensus." Lai reiterated Taiwan's stance of parity and dignity in cross-strait exchanges, asserting that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.
In counter, the KMT accused Lai of misrepresenting Cheng's proposals and claimed that his administration labeled their advocacy for peace as "pro-China." The KMT argued that it is Lai who has escalated tensions across the Taiwan Strait, as mentioned in their press release. They accused him of neglecting public needs and failing to restore normal cross-strait exchanges, which they believe sacrifices Taiwan's safety for political gain.
The KMT emphasized that cross-strait relations are "not state-to-state" and that the "1992 Consensus" is crucial for dialogue and reducing hostility. This understanding acknowledges "one China" with differing interpretations by both sides, a framework upheld by the KMT but rejected by the DPP.
Additionally, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) criticized Lai for attributing domestic political and energy crises to opposition lawmakers. The TPP urged Lai to fulfill his promises of unity, democracy, peace, and prosperity, urging him to cease political confrontations.