The new chairman of Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) -- Tien Hung-mao – took office on Monday.
The foundation sent a notification to its Chinese counterpart – the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) about the appointment of Tien and Vice Chairman Chang Tien Chin. The letter also expressed the hope that the two sides can continue discussing matters of cross-strait interest as soon as possible.
Tien said he does not believe that Beijing has “closed the door” to communication. He said that he is therefore optimistic, and will remain hopeful prior to any decisive move by top-ranking Chinese officials.
Later at a press conference, Tien mentioned the so-called “1992 Consensus”, which has been used as a basis for exchanges between the two sides.
Since her inauguration, President Tsai Ing-wen has not acknowledged the consensus and China has responded by cutting off official communication with Taiwan.
Tien said Monday that the issues surrounding the “1992 Consensus” are not something that he can solve as SEF chairman. He said, though, that there are solutions for every kind of problem, and that he believed that the two sides could find a peaceful route. Tien said he did not believe that Beijing was oblivious to the friendly gestures offered by Tsai since she took office.