The KMT’s delegation to China, headed by vice chair Andrew Hsia, has now entered quarantine in Xiamen. The visit continues to spark outrage from both KMT members and pan-green lawmakers in Taiwan, while China celebrates the visit. The delegation says it’s not scheduled to meet with any government officials in China, but critics say that it won’t necessarily prevent gatherings.

Across the strait, China Central Television celebrates the visit of a delegation led by KMT vice chair Andrew Hsia. But in Taiwan, the visit has sparked huge backlash. Fellow KMT member, Lee Lai-hsi, questioned on social media Hsia’s need to visit China under the current state of heightened tensions. He added that it was no wonder that the KMT was being painted as being pro-CCP.

Lo Chih-cheng
DPP lawmaker
In their itinerary, will there be meetings with officials from China’s central or local governments? Of course, the KMT can just say that they bumped into each other by chance, or that as guests, they can’t reject invitations. All this has been implied before, and they are trying to hide their exchanges with Chinese officials.

Wang Hsing-huan
Taiwan Statebuilding Party
Taiwan’s biggest opposition party, the Chinese Nationalist Party, has from the very beginning been an agent for the Chinese regime in Taiwan. They call it a visit. But in reality, they are working together with the enemy. They are catering to China while sowing division in Taiwan. And they are sending the wrong message to the international community.

Hsia, who is 72 years old, previously held office as head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council. It was under his term that the meeting between former President Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese leader Xi Jinping was held in Singapore in 2015. He’s previously interacted with core members of Xi’s regime.

Andrew Hsia (Aug. 11, 2015)
Then-Mainland Affairs Council minister
The results of a poll conducted by the council shows that more than 80% of respondents support a meeting between the leaders of both sides of the strait on the conditions of equality, respect, openness and transparency.

Chou Yung-hong
Taichung councilor (DPP)
He used to lead the Mainland Affairs Council, so he should know better about sensitive matters in cross-strait relations. He wants to go, fine. He’s willingly behaving like a pawn for China. Frankly speaking, I don’t think it’s all as simple as they make it to be. They must have agreed on some arrangements before the visit.

Reports say Hsia is visiting China in order to mend relations between China and the KMT, as well as to raise funds for the local elections in November. But with China’s drills continuing on in the Taiwan Strait and with opposition from within his party, many are questioning his allegiances.