Taiwan opposition unveils China affairs group

Taiwan’s main opposition party has unveiled plans to try to repair its troubled relations with China, a major factor in its recent presidential election defeat.

At a late Wednesday meeting, the Democratic Progressive Party sanctioned the establishment of a “China Affairs Committee” to co-ordinate its ties with the mainland.

The DPP move comes following its January election defeat in which standard bearer Tsai Ing-wen was outpointed by incumbent Ma Ying-jeou of the rival Nationalists.

Local commentators believe a big reason for Tsai’s loss was her failure to convince Taiwanese that China would not punish a DPP president for the party’s formal support for Taiwanese independence. By contrast Ma emphasised China reconciliation and deepening Taiwan’s already close economic ties with the mainland.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949.