Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia (???) met with a senior Chinese Taiwan affairs official Thursday in Shanghai, exchanging views on how to improve cross-strait relations, the KMT said Friday.

Hsia, who is on a multi-city visit to China to meet with Taiwanese who live and work there, had dinner with Chen Yuanfeng (???), deputy head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), the KMT said in a press release.

During the meeting, the two men exchanged views on a range of issues, including Taiwanese job scam victims trapped in Cambodia, who China has said it is willing to help, according to the KMT.

Hsia also raised concerns about China’s recent suspension of imports of some Taiwanese products, and rumors about the possible cancelation of the product list for tariff reductions by China under the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), the KMT said.

In response, Chen expressed hopes that ECFA-related cooperation could continue despite current cross-strait tensions, the KMT said.

Both sides also agreed on the importance of bilateral civilian exchanges, and the need to address the reduced number of cross-strait flight destinations and restore the three mini-links regarding ferry services between China and Taiwan’s offshore islands, which were suspended in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the KMT said.

Hsia’s trip to China, from Aug. 10-27, has sparked controversy in Taiwan, as it comes in the wake of a high pressure military and economic campaign against Taiwan by Beijing in retaliation for a visit to Taiwan by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other U.S. moves seen as departing from its one-China policy.

In response to Hsia’s meeting with Chen, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Friday accused the TAO of trying to manipulate the Taiwanese public as it pledges exchanges on the one hand but also continues to pressure the country.

Beijing’s refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and its creation of conflict in the Taiwan Strait have seriously violated international law and the principles of peace in international relations, according to the MAC.

“(Such action) is illegal and inappropriate, and has long been condemned by the international community,” the MAC said in a statement.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also accused Hsia of sending the “wrong message” to the global community by meeting with a senior TAO official amid China’s pressure campaign against Taiwan.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel