TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) on Wednesday (Nov. 13) announced the creation of a think tank that will aim to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Wang chaired the inaugural meeting of the “Middle Way Peace Alliance” alongside former and current Kuomintang (KMT) heavyweights, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and independent politicians, and political scholars, per CNA. The think tank said these people would serve on its board of directors with former government ministers, directors of other think tanks, and businesspeople.
Wang said the think tank will not distinguish between political parties, sects, or professions. He said he hopes the think tank can bring people with “lofty ideals” from all parties together to face domestic and cross-strait problems and promote peace.
Wang said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌), former Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien (呂秀蓮), and former Premier Hsiao Wan-chang (蕭萬長) were not invited to be board members. He said they may be invited to join in the future.

Wang said Straits Exchange Foundation Vice Chair Luo Wen-jia (羅文嘉) agreed to participate in the alliance but was unable to and recommended scholars to join in his place.
When asked by reporters if the “1992 Consensus” was still relevant to cross-strait relations, Wang said, “The answer is not yes and it is not no.” He said the issue would need to wait for a social consensus to emerge, and if the concept is deemed unnecessary there will no longer be any need to talk about it.
Wang denied media suggestions that he created the think tank intending to contest the KMT chairpersonship in 2025. He also said the think tank was not related to former President Ma Ying-jeou’s (马英九) efforts to promote cross-strait relations.
The following people were included on the think tank’s list of board of directors: KMT Secretary-General Justin Huang (黃健庭), KMT Vice Chairperson Andrew Hsia (夏立言), former Taipei Mayor Hao Lung-pin (郝龍斌), former Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan (卓伯源), TPP Legislator Chang Chi-kai (張啓楷), former National Taiwan University President Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔), and Taiwan Democracy Foundation Director Liao Ta-chi (廖達琪).
The think tank is expected to hold its first forum on Dec. 8.