A former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) official says Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) needs to clarify its China policy to ease public skepticism ahead of the presidential election next year.
The AIT is the top US agency in charge of relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. In an event held by the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC on Friday, former AIT Managing Director Barbara Schrage said that DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen will have the chance to make clear her stance when she visits the US later this year. Tsai is expected to be her party’s candidate in Taiwan’s presidential election next year.
Schrage said Tsai was unable to clear up Washington’s doubts about her China policy when she visited the US in 2011. She said the DPP does not necessarily have to accept the “1992 Consensus”, but it should find ways to narrow its differences with Beijing.
The 1992 Consensus refers to a tacit understanding between China and Taiwan. The two sides agreed that there is only "one China," and both Mainland China and Taiwan are a part of it. But the two sides agreed to disagree on what "one China" means.