Taipei criticises opposition trip

China has warmly welcomed the KMT delegation

A senior official in Taiwan's ruling party has sharply criticised the opposition KMT party for its visit this week to mainland China.

The visit is the KMT's first official return to the mainland since it was defeated by communist forces in 1949.

The KMT says it wants to ease tensions with Beijing following its passing of a new law which allows it to use force if Taiwan makes any independence moves.

The KMT delegation on Thursday met senior Chinese official Jia Qinglin.

"I'm very happy that you've come," Mr Jia told the leader of the delegation, KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pink-kun.

"Your visit has opened unprecedented party-to-party exchanges and dialogue. It has important significance," he said.

TAIWAN-CHINA RELATIONS Ruled by separate governments since end of Chinese civil war in 1949 China considers the island part of its territory China has offered a "one country, two systems" solution, like Hong Kong Most people in Taiwan support status quo Chinese press upbeat Warning to Taiwan Taiwan flashpoint

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was less impressed.

"While Taiwan's government and the international community condemned China's anti-secession legislation, the KMT has become the Chinese communists' propaganda tool," said DPP Secretary General Lee Yi-yang.

Mr Chiang said on Wednesday that the two sides had agreed on 10 proposals to expand trade, travel and commercial ties, but they were largely symbolic as the KMT has no policy-making power.

The nationalist KMT was defeated by the communists and sought refuge on the island of Taiwan in 1949.

The party - which was in power in Taiwan for more than 50 years until 2000 - is now considered to have closer relations with China than the DPP.

China has strongly criticised the DPP's drive to change the constitution, which Beijing says could lead to a bid for full independence.

The KMT's visit comes just days after the latest protests by hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese people, who marched through the capital, Taipei, protesting against China's anti-secession law.