Demonstrators urge Taiwan's new leader to recognize 1992 Consensus

TAIPEI - As Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was inaugurated on Friday, representatives from some of the island's organizations gathered to appeal to her to recognize the 1992 Consensus.

The crowd was dotted with banners that read: "Adhering to the 1992 Consensus, and maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait," and "Both sides of the Strait belong to one China," and slogans, such as "Opposition to Taiwan independence, and support for peaceful unification," were chanted by the protestors.

"The essence of the 1992 Consensus is that both sides of the Strait belong to one China," said Chang An-lo, president of the China Unionist Party.

Chang called on Tsai and the DPP to shed their elusive approach to the 1992 Consensus, change their stance on Taiwan independence, and to refrain from creating confrontation that may endanger the people of Taiwan.

Having gone through thousands of years of vicissitude, Chang said, the Chinese nation has entered the era of rejuvenation and nothing will stand in its way.

Calling Taiwan independence a "ticking bomb," Chang said the majority of compatriots across the Strait, as well as overseas Chinese, wish to "snuff out its fuse."

A participant of the rally, who only gave the surname Chen, said; "I am here to show my support for the 1992 Consensus, and I hope our new leader recognizes and accepts it."

"Our message is simple: Opposition to Taiwan independence," said a woman who asked to only be identified by her surname Gao, adding that she was concerned that the cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation might suffer and effect the Taiwan economy.

She also feared that the DPP might use the education and culture sectors to promote "implicit Taiwan independence," which could have an adverse effect on Taiwan's younger generations.