Working together for peace and unity across the Strait

Editor's note: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Sunday congratulated Cheng Li-wun on her election as chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party the day before. China Daily spoke to Yu Laiming, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Wuhan University, about Cheng's election victory and what influence it might have on the cross-Strait situation. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

Cheng's election campaign stance — peace and development, "I am Chinese", and her support for the one-China principle — earned her broader support among the KMT members. Indeed, the call for "peace over war" resonates with the core aspirations of Taiwan compatriots as it has become a consensus in Taiwan society, transcending party lines and political affiliations. For the 23 million residents of the Chinese island, the pursuit of peace represents the greatest common ground.

As chairperson, Cheng faces multiple challenges, including the need to unite the various factions of the KMT. Next year's "nine-in-one elections" on the island will be heavily influenced by regional dynamics, so the KMT needs to balance local interests when nominating candidates. Building intraparty consensus remains a major challenge, which is why Cheng has called for party unity following her victory.

The KMT will also have to leverage its strengths to gain an advantage in the elections. Elections are highly resource-intensive, and the KMT lacks both personnel and financial resources. It falls upon Cheng to consolidate party resources and promote KMT members to crucial positions in the competition against the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Cheng also articulated her stance on cross-Strait relations during the election campaign. On the one hand, she will seek to solidify the consensus on the one-China principle within the KMT. On the other, she hopes to attract younger voters, as the KMT is widely perceived to be a party with a limited appeal among the youth. How she integrates these two approaches is key to the KMT gaining traction.

It is hoped that Cheng will promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations based on the 1992 Consensus and help return interactions to a stage of harmonious exchanges and normal cooperation.

This is crucial to safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Moreover, in the context of the China-United States dynamics, the mainland also expects Taiwan to move away from the negative influences currently exerted by the DPP authorities. Achieving the complete reunification of the nation requires strengthening the shared recognition of one Chinese family among the younger generations on both sides of the Strait.

To some extent, Cheng's outreach to the younger generation might resemble the methods employed by the DPP, but with a different political narrative.

That people on both sides of the Strait are moving toward each other is a historical inevitability. As Cheng noted in her reply to Xi's congratulations, people across the Strait are members of the same Chinese nation and the Communist Party of China and KMT should strengthen exchanges and cooperation to promote cross-Strait peace and stability and strive for the greatest benefits of people on both sides.