As is expected of any DPP presidential hopeful, Annette Lu has proposed her strategy toward cross-strait relations this week, saying that future interactions between both sides should be based on the so-called "1996 Consensus," which stresses Taiwan's status as a sovereign nation.

Less than one day after DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen detailed her cross-strait platform, former Vice President Annette Lu did the same at a national development conference.

Lu also attended the opening of a China research center and talked about replacing the 92 Consensus with a new "96 Consensus."

According to Lu, Taiwan became a sovereign, independent nation in 1996 when it held its first democratic presidential election.

She also subtly criticized Tsai's stance on cross-strait relations as failing to represent the DPP and having no policy continuity.

Lu further expounded on the definition of the 96 Consensus as the promotion of the Republic of China and People's Republic of China as two separate, sovereign nations that have distinctive bloodlines and cultures.

In order to prevent controversy ahead of the DPP's presidential primaries, Lu also said that the 96 Consensus at present time exists only as an issue of debate among scholars.

66 scholars and experts were announced as center researchers at the event, and Lu announced her intentions of running for president hours later.