Hung Hsiu-chu, the newly elected head of the Kuomintang Party (KMT) in Taiwan, is seen as continuing “on a track of peaceful development” established by outgoing Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, as far as her observers from mainland China are concerned.
"Hung has a very solid foundation of upholding the KMT's political direction and opposing 'Taiwan independence,'" Ni Yongjie, deputy of the Shanghai Institute of Taiwan Studies, told Beijing-based China Daily in an interview posted on Monday.
Hung, who previously sat as Taiwan's deputy legislative speaker, defeated three other candidates on Saturday by winning 56.16 percent of the votes to become the KMT's first female chairperson. She will replace Eric Chu, who resigned from the position to take responsibility for the Kuomintang's defeat in the presidential election against Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party on Jan. 16.
Zhu Songling, director of the Institute of Cross-Straits Relations at Beijing Union University, said Hung has a clear stance on China-Taiwan relations and the 1992 Consensus, which recognizes both regions as being "one China."
"Her election shows that upholding the consensus is still a mainstream view in the KMT," Zhu told the Global Times.
On Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Hung on her victory, expressing hopes for the continued overall national interest and well-being of both sides and opposition against "Taiwan independence."
The CPC and KMT should consolidate the foundation of mutual trust, strengthen communication and interaction, jointly safeguard the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and, with one heart, strive to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said in a message posted on the Xinhua News Agency website.
Hung replied in a letter her thanks to Xi's congratulations, adding that since 2008 the KMT has promoted peaceful development between China and Taiwan on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, including the signing of multiple agreements between the two sides, the launching of direct flights and allowing tourists from the mainland to visit Taiwan.
"At this key moment, although our party is confronted with stark challenges, I will take on the responsibility and lead all party members in unity to embrace a brand-new future," Hung said in the letter.
Both parties should work together to maintain cross-Strait peace and stability and create more benefits for compatriots on both sides of the Strait, she added.