The head of the Taiwan Research Centre at the Beijing United University claims that close ties between China’s old nationalists on Taiwan and their historical enemies on the mainland can be the winning card in the 2008 presidential elections.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The last hope for the Kuomintang (KMT), China’s old Nationalist Party in Taiwan, to win the next elections is represented by its historic enemy, the mainland’s Communist Party, this according to Xu Bodong, head of the Taiwan Research Centre at the Beijing United University. In his view a close relationship with mainland authorities is a critical electoral card for the KMT.

Maintaining the status quo with Beijing “will no doubt help the KMT secure votes [in the 2008 presidential elections] since it is the wish of the majority of Taiwan's people to have stable cross-strait relations,” Professor Xu said.

In the meantime, the KMT’s honorary chairman, Lien Chan, announced he will travel to the mainland for a third time next week-end. He is scheduled to meet Hu Jintao and mainland economic leaders.

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