A delegation of KMT lawmakers are visiting China with the goal of promoting peace in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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00:00 A delegation of lawmakers from Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang are on their way to China.
00:05 This trip follows another high-profile visit from a prominent KMT politician, Taiwan's
00:09 former president, Ma Ying-jeou.
00:11 Now our reporter Tiffany Wong is following the story for us from Taipei.
00:14 Tiffany, what's going on with all these visits?
00:17 Well, the timing of these visits is significant, both of them occurring just one month before
00:24 Taiwan's next president, Lai Ching-da, is set to take office.
00:28 And both the KMT delegation as well as former president Ma said that they want to have these
00:34 visits to promote peace in the Taiwan Strait.
00:37 Specifically, the KMT lawmakers say that they want to promote trade with China as well as
00:42 a reopening of tourism on both sides.
00:45 Here's what they said ahead of their trip.
00:47 This time, we represent Taiwan's new public interest, the largest party in Congress, to
00:55 carry out a peaceful and peaceful journey.
00:58 We hope to restore the eight-year-long relationship between the two sides.
01:03 The people of Taiwan love peace, freedom and prosperity.
01:06 We need peace and stability.
01:07 The Taiwan Strait needs peace.
01:13 Now during his trip, former president Ma even met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
01:18 But it's unlikely that these KMT lawmakers will receive such a high-level audience.
01:24 Tiffany, what's the reaction been in Taiwan to this trip?
01:27 Are there bigger geopolitical implications?
01:30 Well, it's notable that these are some of the few exchanges we've seen across the Taiwan
01:37 Strait in recent years.
01:38 That's because China stopped having official communications with Taiwan's government ever
01:45 since current President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016.
01:49 That's because she refused to recognize Taiwan as a part of China.
01:54 Now the incoming president, Lai Ching-teh, is also from her party, the Democratic Progressive
01:58 Party.
01:59 He says that he wants to have a direct communication with China.
02:03 He doesn't want it to just be these KMT delegations communicating with the Chinese side.
02:09 But his party also says that while the KMT delegation is there, they should not make
02:15 any official promises or agreements with China that they are not representing Taiwan's government.
02:20 Now also of note is that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a visit to China, and
02:25 he just met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
02:28 We're still waiting to hear updates on what they've said, and we'll have more for you
02:32 later on Taiwan Plus.
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