KMT stresses ‘family’ ties with mainland China as vice-chair begins Beijing visit

Taiwan’s main opposition party reaffirmed its view of mainland China as “family” as the vice-chair of the Kuomintang (KMT) left for talks with counterparts in Beijing on Monday.The trip by KMT vice-chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen has drawn fierce criticism from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and reignited debate over the island’s cross-strait strategy.Leading a 40-member delegation to a think tank forum with the China" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="7909" data-entity-type="organization">Communist Party of China, Hsiao said the visit was aimed at creating a more peaceful and prosperous environment for people on both sides of the Taiwan-strait" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="5508" data-entity-type="location">Taiwan Strait.In addition to attending Tuesday’s full-day forum, the KMT delegation will visit Tsinghua University in Beijing on Wednesday before returning to Taiwan the same day, according to Hsiao.Hsiao is expected to meet Taiwan-affairs-office" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="6513" data-entity-type="organization">Taiwan Affairs Office director Song Tao during the visit, though it remains unclear whether he will also see Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, in line with past practice.Speaking to reporters at an airport in Taoyuan before departure, Hsiao said Tuesday’s forum would focus on “tourism, precision machinery, healthcare, energy and disaster prevention” in an effort to build consensus and promote cooperation.