Xi Jinping paints DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen into independence corner
Mainland leaders put a two-decade-old cross-strait deal on the agenda as the political prospects for Taiwan's main opposition party improve
President Xi Jinping has given the head of Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party little option.
Analysts say that in the run-up to the island's presidential election next year, Dr Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP's chairwoman, will have to spell out where she stands on independence and a two-decade-old deal after Xi sent a clear message last week - recognise the informal 1992 agreement on "one China" or watch tensions rise.
In pointed remarks apparently aimed at Taiwan's main opposition party, Xi used his first panel meeting appearance at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on Wednesday to insist that cross-strait ties were based on the "1992 consensus" and warn against Taiwan independence.
"[Independence forces] are the biggest threat to cross-strait peace and stability and therefore should be resolutely opposed," Xi said.
Premier Li Keqiang echoed the call the next day. Both men said that as long as the consensus was respected, there would be no obstacles to cross-strait exchanges with any political parties or organisations from Taiwan.
Taipei and Beijing reached a verbal understanding in Hong Kong in 1992 in which each recognised that there is only one China, but each also interpreted what China stood for. For Taipei, it stands for the Republic of China and for Beijing it is the People's Republic of China. The agreement has been the basis for exchanges since then but it is not recognised by the DPP.