Zhao Chunshan, a senior adviser to the Chinese Kuomintang: Keep the war away from the land where the Chinese live on both sides of the strait

　　[Global Times Reporter Wu Wei] "This trip to the mainland is really rewarding." In an exclusive interview with a "Global Times" reporter on the 20th, Zhao Chunshan, a senior adviser to the Chinese Kuomintang, sounded a little tired, but couldn't hide his excitement.

On February 8, he accompanied Xia Liyan, vice chairman of the Kuomintang, to the mainland for a 10-day "exchange and dialogue, caring for people's livelihood" trip, and returned to Taiwan on the 17th.

Zhao Chunshan said that people on both sides of the strait do not want war, and both the KMT and the Communist Party want peace. This is the outstanding feeling of his trip.

　　A fresh look at mainland cities

　　Global Times: During this landing process, which thing impressed you the most?

Zhao Chunshan:

Because of the impact of the epidemic, I haven't been to the mainland for about five or six years.

During this visit, I found that both the central government and local leaders in mainland China deal with Taiwan issues in accordance with the principle of "pragmatic and unrealistic", and they are full of strategic confidence and strategic determination.

The top leaders in many places have stayed in coastal areas such as Fujian and Zhejiang, and they know Taiwan very well.

This impressed me very much, and they have their own specialties, good temperament, and good manners, which really refreshed me.

　　Global Times: What kind of changes do you think you have seen in mainland China this time?

Zhao Chunshan:

It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. The changes are too great.

I mainly went to some big cities this time. The receptionist said frankly that the mainland is still facing the problem of unbalanced development, and I don’t shy away from asking questions at all. I think it is very good.

These cities not only amaze me with their hardware construction, but more importantly, they have also made great progress in civilization construction.

The roads are very clean, and the common people obey the traffic rules more than in the past.

I used to hear car horns beeping all the time when I went to mainland China. This time I told my escort, why haven’t I heard the horn for a long time?

For another example, Taiwanese businessmen from mainland China have complained more or less in the past, and privately told me that in doing business, "it doesn't matter if it matters, and it matters if it doesn't matter".

But now, they think that the mainland is doing everything according to the law, but they think that Taiwan has a lot of restrictions in this regard.

　　The three main objectives of the visit were basically achieved

　　Global Times: Vice Chairman Xia Liyan said that there are three major purposes for this visit to the mainland. In your opinion, how are the three major purposes achieved?

Zhao Chunshan:

The first major purpose of Vice Chairman Xia Liyan's trip is to establish a channel for high-level exchange and dialogue between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party with the new leaders of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

We have received some results in this regard. The Kuomintang clearly stated that the anti-"Taiwan independence" and "1992 Consensus" are the basis for mutual trust between the two sides. At the same time, we also understand the overall strategy of the CCP's work on Taiwan after the 20th National Congress.

As Director Song Tao said, on the basis of "peace, communication, cooperation, and development", strive for the centripetal force of Taiwan compatriots towards the mainland.

I think it is very important for the top leaders of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party to have such mutual understanding.

Compared with the Ma Ying-jeou period in the past, it is undeniable that the statements made by some leaders of the Kuomintang in certain aspects have aroused suspicion in the mainland.

Through this visit, we can clear up some doubts and show the mainland that the KMT's mainland policy will not change.

　　The second purpose is to care for the needs of Taiwanese businessmen, youths and other Taiwan compatriots in the mainland. This aspect has also received an extremely kind response from the mainland.

For example, during the visit, the mainland emphasized the necessity of youth exchanges between the two sides of the strait. Others, such as the resumption of flight destinations, are the voices of Taiwan compatriots. The two sides have considerable consensus on these aspects.

　　The third purpose is to reflect some thoughts of the grassroots people in Taiwan.

Public opinion at the grassroots level in Taiwan hopes to gradually open up and lift the ban while abiding by laws and regulations.

For example, Taiwan’s agricultural and fishery products were banned from being imported to the mainland for some time. Although the restrictions are gradually being relaxed, Taiwanese people, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and disadvantaged groups, hope to further open up. At the same time, they hope that cross-strait economic and trade cooperation will be further strengthened after the epidemic.

Vice Chairman Xia Liyan also conveyed these aspirations to the leaders on the other side very accurately.

　　The above three goals were basically achieved. I think the trip went very smoothly and I am very satisfied.

　　DPP faces pressure from public opinion

　　Global Times: How do you understand the phrase "the mainland welcomes people from the green camp to visit the mainland"?

Do you think the DPP will land?

Zhao Chunshan:

Now the CCP’s efforts to win the hearts of the people in Taiwan and the harmony between the two sides of the strait are no longer “limited to a few people” as some Taiwanese think. Communicate with the people of Taiwan through multiple channels.

Some people think that this is the mainland's united front against Taiwan, but from the statement "green battalion people are welcome to visit", I see that the mainland is not only making friends, but going a step further to "turn enemies into friends."

Of course, the main condition is to oppose "Taiwan independence" and be able to accept the "1992 Consensus".

Therefore, the DPP authorities should not be able to land now, because they still have the "Taiwan Independence Party Platform" and still do not accept the "1992 Consensus."

But for many other green campers who advocate cross-strait peace, accept the "1992 Consensus" and oppose "Taiwan independence", I think this "door" has been opened.

　　Global Times: The DPP seems to have made some changes this year, such as the resumption of the "miniature three links", but only half of them.

In your opinion, what are the concerns of the DPP?

Zhao Chunshan:

Internally, the DPP is still based on vote considerations. On the one hand, it must gather the support of the so-called fundamentalists, which is their basic policy.

But at the same time, the DPP also knows that "anti-China" is not enough to "protect Taiwan", so it also hopes to win the support of middle-level voters with limited opening up.

Of course, the DPP is influenced by the United States. Whether it is fully open or limited, it must take into account the attitude of the United States. Too open may cause the United States to doubt.

When Xia Liyan came to the mainland this time, some Western media said that some people in the Washington political circle were uncomfortable with the friendly exchanges between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. You can imagine that the attitude of the United States will affect Tsai Ing-wen's cross-strait policy.

　　In early February, Tsai Ing-wen stated at the Taiwan Entrepreneurs Association that she would strengthen exchanges with the mainland.

I think her "let go" gesture is due to pressure from public opinion.

Various polls show that Taiwanese people basically maintain a good impression of the mainland people, and hope that the two sides can communicate, especially the economic dependence between the two sides.

During the period of Tsai Ing-wen's administration, Taiwan's economic and trade dependence on the mainland "increased instead of falling." I think that based on public opinion or survival reasons, Taiwan has no way to decouple from the mainland's economy.

As far as we know, ordinary people in Taiwan want peace. Without dialogue, it is easy to misfire, and there can be no peace. All these put a lot of pressure on Tsai Ing-wen.

　　The two parties should cooperate for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation

　　Global Times: Some scholars in Taiwan predict that "2023 will be the year of great cross-strait exchanges." What do you think?

Zhao Chunshan:

Mainland leaders have said that not only should we pay attention to "black swans", we must also guard against "gray rhinos".

There may indeed be some emergencies in cross-strait relations this year. Taiwan is about to enter an election year, and so is the United States.

In Sino-U.S. relations, the Taiwan factor will come to the fore from time to time. The U.S. plays the "Taiwan card," and the DPP will also play the "Mainland card."

In Xia Liyan's interview, I kept emphasizing that I smelled a breath of spring, but in fact it is more appropriate to use "warm and cold". There are still many factors that we must guard against.

Work hard towards the best expectations, but at the same time prepare for the worst, so I am basically cautiously optimistic.

　　Fortunately, the opposition within Taiwan to Xia Liyan's landing this time was not as intense as I imagined.

His trip not only speaks out the Kuomintang, but also speaks out the aspirations of the people of Taiwan. Those who criticize him are deliberately distorting and considering the interests of political parties rather than the interests of Taiwan and the interests of the two sides of the strait.

Therefore, after I returned to Taiwan, I kept saying, don’t think that the mainland likes war, and don’t think that the people of Taiwan like war. I feel that people on both sides of the strait will look at cross-strait relations from the perspective of the overall interests of the Chinese nation, and hope to keep war away. The land where Chinese people live on both sides of the strait.

　　The last time the Kuomintang and the Communist Party cooperated was for the War of Resistance and the establishment of a national united front.

If there is a third KMT-CPC cooperation, the two parties should cooperate and work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This is a new expectation after my trip.