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Communist Party and KMT Revive Cross-Strait Forum
Politics

Communist Party and KMT Revive Cross-Strait Forum

South China Morning Post6d ago
3 min read
📋

Key Facts

  • ✓ The Communist Party and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) appear to be in the final stages of talks to revive an inter-party forum.
  • ✓ The three-day forum is designed to facilitate party-to-party communication and promote cross-strait exchanges.
  • ✓ The forum is scheduled to start in Beijing on January 27.
  • ✓ If it takes place, it will be the first time the event has been held since 2016.
  • ✓ The forum was suspended in 2016 because of tensions between the parties.

In This Article

  1. Quick Summary
  2. Revival of Political Dialogue
  3. Event Details and Schedule
  4. Historical Context of the Forum
  5. Implications for Cross-Strait Relations

Quick Summary#

The Communist Party and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) appear to be in the final stages of talks to revive an inter-party forum suspended nine years ago. The three-day forum is designed to facilitate party-to-party communication and promote cross-strait exchanges.

Reports indicate the forum is scheduled to start in Beijing on January 27. If it takes place, it will be the first time the event has been held since 2016. The forum was suspended because of tensions between the parties involved.

Revival of Political Dialogue#

The Communist Party and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) are reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to restart a significant inter-party forum. This dialogue channel has been dormant for nearly a decade, having been suspended in 2016 due to rising political tensions. The potential resumption of this forum represents a notable development in cross-strait relations.

The forum is specifically designed to facilitate direct party-to-party communication. Its primary goal is to promote exchanges between the two sides of the strait. By maintaining this channel, both parties aim to manage dialogue outside of official government frameworks.

Event Details and Schedule 📅#

The planned event is a three-day forum scheduled to take place in Beijing. According to reports, the forum is set to begin on January 27. This specific scheduling marks a concrete step toward resuming the dialogue that has been absent for years.

If the forum takes place as scheduled, it will serve as a major milestone. It would be the first time this specific event has been held since the suspension in 2016. The location in Beijing underscores the mainland's role in hosting these bilateral discussions.

Historical Context of the Forum#

The forum in question was originally established to serve as a bridge for cross-strait exchanges. For years, it functioned as a key mechanism for dialogue between the Communist Party and the KMT. However, the political climate shifted significantly leading up to 2016.

The suspension of the forum nine years ago was a direct result of escalating tensions. These tensions made the continuation of the political channel untenable at the time. The current talks to revive the forum suggest a mutual interest in stabilizing the relationship through renewed communication.

Implications for Cross-Strait Relations#

The potential revival of this inter-party forum could have significant implications for the region. It signals a willingness from both the Communist Party and the KMT to re-engage in structured dialogue. This development is being closely watched as it may pave the way for broader discussions regarding cross-strait exchanges.

While the forum is strictly party-to-party, it often serves as a barometer for the wider political relationship. The successful resumption of the event on January 27 would demonstrate a commitment to maintaining open lines of communication despite historical differences.

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