The Kuomintang originally planned that Wang Jin-pyng, the former legislator, would lead a delegation to Xiamen of Fujian province to participate in the Straits Forum on September 16. However, Li Hong, a CCTV host of “Across the Strait” commented that Wang’s visit to the mainland was “to seek reconciliation.” The statement triggered criticism of the Kuomintang in Taiwan. Johnny Chiang, the Kuomintang chairman demanded an apology from Li Hong. Although Li later on responded that she meant that the visit was to seek “peace” not “reconciliation,” [Editor’s note: “和” in Chinese carries multiple meanings including reconciliation, harmony or peace] she was unable to quell all parties’ doubts. On September 14, the Kuomintang announced that, for the first time since the Straits Forum started 12 years ago, it would not participate in the “Straits Forum” as a political party; however, each party member could decide for himself whether to participate.
China has hosted the “Straits Forum” since 2009. In the past, the chairman of the National Committee of the Political Consultative Conference would attend the opening ceremony. For the past 11 years, the Kuomintang sent a vice chairman to lead a delegation. Hung Hsiu-chu personally led a delegation when she was the Chairman. This year Johnny Chiang was elected the Chairman of the party without a Vice Chairman so Wang Jin-pyng, former legislative member, was selected to attend the “Straits Forum.”
Source: Radio Free Asia, September 14, 2020
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hx-09142020085643.html