The DPP authorities obstructed all circles from participating in the Straits Forum, and the KMT: Zhu Lilun made a video speech

Source: Global Times

In the face of the DPP's defense against the Straits Forum, the KUOMINTANG announced on the 8th that Party Chairman Zhu Lilun would deliver a video message.

Zhu Lilun (data map). Picture from Taiwan's "United News Network"

Taiwan's "Central News Agency" said on the 8th that The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China recently announced that the 13th Straits Forum will appear in Fujian on the 10th, and a general meeting will be held on the 11th, inviting representatives of relevant political parties in Taiwan, responsible persons of social organizations, townships, villages, agriculture, fisheries, water conservancy, and other circles to attend in different ways. The KMT temporarily cancelled its attendance last year, and the outside world is concerned about Zhu Lilun's participation after he became party chairman. On the 8th, Lin Zujia, director of the Mainland Affairs Department of the Kuomintang, revealed that Vice Chairman Xia Liyan will participate in the video conference of the youth forum on the 10th, and Zhu Lilun, chairman of the party, will deliver a speech by video on the 11th. As for the content of Zhu Lilun's speech, it will focus on the main axis of cross-strait peaceful exchanges, such as the rights and interests of Taiwan businessmen' enterprises, social exchanges, and youth exchanges.

Zhu Lilun himself said on the afternoon of the 8th that the Straits Forum belongs to non-governmental exchange activities, which is also in line with the exchanges of the "six major social forces" that he often mentions, and hopes that the forum can be successfully and completely.

The China Times Electronic News said on the 8th that Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council recently set the Straits Forum as a "large-scale united front platform for the Chinese Communists against Taiwan," prohibiting the participation of the authorities and ministries, let alone the participation of local governments, and prohibiting relevant Taiwan institutions, individuals, and organizations from participating in any form, which is considered to be directly aimed at the KMT. In this regard, Xia Liyan, vice chairman of the Kuomintang, said that the MAC does not agree with the participation of public officials, does not encourage nongovernmental participation, and does not say that it is not allowed to participate, "and of course we handle it in accordance with relevant regulations." He also said that when the DPP was in power or in the opposition, the party members also participated in the Straits Forum, "There should be various opportunities for cross-strait communication, plus the KMT is not sponsored but invited, so why don't we participate?" ”

Huang Kuibo, an associate professor at the Department of Foreign Affairs at Taiwan Chengchi University, wrote that in the past, there were applications by high-level KMT officials within the control period to go to the mainland to participate in the Straits Forum, but they were not approved by the Mainland Affairs Council, and this year they only saw "the Tsai government's defensive posture and anti-blocking behavior." It can be seen that after the DPP came to power for several years, it has been super wary and lacking confidence in cross-strait exchanges. The article said: At a time when there is a lack of cross-strait mutual trust in the 21 st century, the DPP authorities are still technically reducing cross-strait exchanges by building high walls and opening low doors, which not only indirectly blocks the opportunity to spread Taiwan's soft power to the mainland, but also causes the feelings between the people on both sides of the strait to gradually drain.