According to Taiwan media reports, the mainland has unveiled ten favorable policies toward Taiwan. When asked about this on the 13th, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih responded, "We must bear the responsibility of avoiding war between the two sides; peace is the ultimate goal. Communication through exchanges should aim to minimize conflicts as much as possible." He further emphasized that cross-strait exchanges must be initiated under the principles of "equality, dignity, and mutual respect."
Although Hou Yu-ih's remarks show slight softening compared to previous statements—acknowledging the necessity of "avoiding war" and "exchanges"—his underlying stance remains unchanged. His rhetoric regarding "equality, dignity, and respect" aligns closely with the DPP's "mutual non-subordination" doctrine, revealing his true intentions: seeking to ride the coattails of Kuomintang (KMT) cross-strait engagement while reaping the benefits of peace, yet fearing attacks from the green camp over being labeled "red-tainted." This vacillating, indecisive posture exemplifies the KMT’s confused cross-strait policy. As concrete benefits from the mainland’s pro-Taiwan initiatives are actually taking effect, Hou continues to erect empty preconditions, effectively hindering cross-strait relations. For the KMT to revive, it must eliminate such "covert Taiwan independence" voices; otherwise, these political calculators will ultimately derail the broader trend toward peaceful exchanges.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862332402294784/
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