The spectacular defeat of Kuomintang’s (KMT) Han Kuo-yu has prompted questions of the future of the century-old political party and whether it will maintain its China-friendly position under its current young leadership.

It was understood that the Taiwan opposition party’s reform committee has been hosting a series of meetings, sources revealed on Sunday. Results were expected to be announced on June 19.

The prime concern will be whether the party will maintain its China-friendly position and the 1992 Consensus — the outcome of a 1992 meeting between the semi-official representatives of the People’s Republic of China (mainland China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) which allows different interpretations of “one China.”

Lin Yu-fang, convenor of the party’s cross-strait narrative group, said in a media interview that the question of whether to preserve the 1992 Consensus did not exist as KMT was currently the opposition party. He said when the ruling party, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), rejected the 1992 Consensus, such discussion within the party was futile, but the 1992 Consensus continued to exist regardless.

Lin said the discussion about cross-strait relations within his group was completed and the results will be delivered to the party’s central committee.

The reform of KMT has been a center of attention since Chiang Chi-chen became the chairperson of the party this March. With more than 70% of the votes under his belt, the 48-year-old is widely seen as a representative of the younger generation of party members and is keen to reform the party. He did not address the 1992 Consensus in his election victory speech. He merely emphasized the values of freedom and democracy of the Republic of China and the peaceful collaboration across the strait.

It was said that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not congratulate Chiang’s victory like previous Chinese leaders did to KMT party chair winners. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office only released a statement hoping that Chiang will cherish and defend the 1992 Consensus and act against Taiwan independence.

On Saturday, Han was voted out from his position of Kaohsiung mayor in a historic recall referendum. He was the fast-rising star of KMT and challenged the incumbent Tsai Ing-wen of DPP in Taiwan’s presidential election but he lost his bid to lead Taiwan in January.

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