KMT's Hou advocates 'middle-way' approach to governance

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) 2024 presidential candidate, said Sunday that one of his main goals is to find a "middle-way approach" to governance in Taiwan, which would avoid extremism and unify the people of the country, regardless of their political affiliation.

In an interview with the Taipei-based Chinese Television System (CTS) late Sunday, Hou said the "middle-way approach" would seek to find common ground among Taiwanese of all ethnicities and political stripes "to create a mutually beneficial and prosperous future" for the Republic of China (Taiwan).

On the issue of the "1992 consensus," Hou reiterated his support for a version of it that is in line with Taiwan's laws and Constitution, which he said provide a legal framework for relations with China.

Citing the Constitution and the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Hou said neither side of the Taiwan Strait recognizes its sovereignty over the other, but they do not deny their respective rights to govern their respective territories.

The "1992 consensus" was a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then KMT government of Taiwan and the Chinese government. It has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means.

Beijing, however, has never publicly recognized the second part of the KMT's interpretation, which has drawn criticism from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

According to the DPP, the KMT's stance means that it has accepted the "one country, two systems" formula proposed by Beijing for relations with Taiwan.

Citing a 2019 speech by China President Xi Jinping (習近平), the DPP has argued that the "1992 consensus" is in fact the same as the "one country, two systems" -- an arrangement under which China agreed to govern Hong Kong and Macau and has proposed for Taiwan.

While Xi's speech on Jan. 2, 2019 did include both terms, it referred to the "1992 consensus" as a political "foundation" to enable negotiations and exchanges, while the "one country, two systems" proposal was characterized as a "policy" and "plan" for achieving "peaceful reunification."

In Sunday's interview, Hou said it was okay for China and Taiwan to each have their own interpretation of the "1992 consensus."

"He [Xi] can say whatever he wants, and I can say whatever I want," Hou said, reiterating that his interpretation is based on the Republic of China (ROC) Constitution.

In keeping with that stance, Hou said, he is "opposed to Taiwan independence and is against the "one country, two systems" formula put forth by Beijing.

Hou, who is currently mayor of Taiwan's most populous city New Taipei, said he will continue to uphold freedom, democracy, and the right of the country's 23 million people to decide its fate.

He said the lack of official communication between two sides of the Taiwan Strait since the DPP came to power in May 2016 has resulted in a confrontational stance that could easily lead to cross-strait war.

If he wins the presidency next year, Hou said, he will engage in conversation with the Chinese government based on goodwill and the principles of equality and dignity.

Since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the DPP took office, China has cut official communications with Taiwan due to the fact that the DPP does not accept the "1992 consensus."