The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party used her first full day in mainland China to publicly pledge reconciliation, invoking the spirit of her party's founder, Sun Yat-sen, to call for unity whilst surprisingly praising the communist mainland’s developmental achievements.
Cheng Li-wun, the Chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), is undertaking a highly sensitive diplomatic mission at a time of acute cross-strait tension. Beijing, which views democratically governed Taiwan entirely as its own sovereign territory, has dramatically increased military pressure on the island.
Cheng's visit also coincides with a fierce domestic political battle in Taipei, where the KMT-dominated parliament is actively stalling a government plan to secure $40 billion in extra, emergency defence spending.
In a morning laden with deep historical symbolism, Cheng laid a wreath at Sun Yat-sen's monumental mausoleum in the eastern city of Nanjing. The location resonates on both sides of the strait; Nanjing served as the capital of the KMT-led Republic of China government before it was defeated in a brutal civil war by Mao Zedong's communist forces, prompting the KMT's flight to Taiwan in 1949.
"The core values of Sun Yat-sen's ideal that 'all under heaven are equal' have always been equality, inclusiveness, and unity," Cheng stated with her remarks carried live on Taiwanese television channels.
"We should work together to promote reconciliation and unity across the (Taiwan) Strait and create regional prosperity and peace," she said.
Sun Yat-sen occupies a unique, unifying position in the otherwise fractured history of modern China. Having overthrown the last imperial Qing dynasty to found the Republic of China in 1912, he died of cancer in 1925 before the civil war fully erupted. Consequently, he is still officially venerated in democratic Taiwan as the founding father of the Republic. Paradoxically, he is also revered in mainland China by the ruling Communist Party as a Chinese national hero, with Mao Zedong famously declaring him the "great revolutionary forerunner."
During her address, Cheng noted that the KMT had ultimately honoured Sun's founding democratic principles by transforming Taiwan into a free, multi-party society. However, she candidly acknowledged the dark chapters of the KMT's own history, specifically mentioning the "white terror" era during the 38 years of brutal martial law the island endured until 1987.
Pivoting to the present day, she offered a generous assessment of her hosts. "Likewise, on the mainland, we have also seen and witnessed progress and development that exceeded everyone's expectations and imagination," Cheng added.
While Taiwan boasts a vibrant, multi-party democracy, the Chinese Communist Party brooks no political dissent to its authoritarian rule.
Security was tight for her visit to Nanjing, yet she drew curious crowds. "I think this is very important for peaceful exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," remarked Yang Zihang, a 19-year-old student who had gathered with classmates to watch Cheng's motorcade pass.
Currently, the official channels of communication between Beijing and Taipei are completely frozen. The Chinese government refuses to speak to Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, routinely deriding him as a dangerous "separatist."
Lai, conversely, maintains that only the Taiwanese people possess the right to decide their political future.
Neither government formally recognises the legitimacy of the other. Cheng defends her trip by insisting she is on a vital mission of peace, arguing that while she theoretically supports Taiwanese defence spending, it must be carefully balanced with active dialogue to prevent accidental conflict.
Cheng's rhetoric of reconciliation has been met with severe scepticism by the ruling administration in Taipei. Wu Cheng, a spokesperson for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), issued a blunt rebuke on Wednesday, stating that if the KMT genuinely desired stability across the strait, it should immediately cease blocking the urgent $40 billion defence spending package in parliament.
"Peace has never come from the charity of dictators; it must be safeguarded by Taiwan's own strength," Wu stated, reflecting the administration's view that Beijing only respects hard deterrence. Lai's government has publicly demanded that Cheng utilise her access to tell Chinese officials,including President Xi Jinping, should a meeting occur, to halt the daily military harassment of the island and respect the democratic rights of the Taiwanese populace.
Speaking to reporters at the national parliament in Taipei earlier on Wednesday, Tsai Ming-yen, Director-General of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, declined to comment specifically on partisan activities but warned of Beijing's sophisticated psychological warfare. China, he explained, uses a calculated "carrot-and-stick" approach to destabilise Taiwanese society from within.
By employing relentless military intimidation, China creates an atmosphere of rising military danger across the Taiwan Strait, Tsai noted.
"This is intended to make Taiwan's society and public feel the psychological pressure and anxiety of a possible conflict," he added.
The ultimate goal of this strategy is to "divide Taiwanese society internally, boosting the visibility of pro-China positions."
Tsai warned that this atmospheric pressure is actively designed to "further obstruct efforts to push forward U.S. arms procurement deals," a direct reference to the parliamentary deadlock currently being enforced by Cheng's KMT.
U.S. and Iranian officials said they had agreed on a framework to end their war, halt the U.S. blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a pre...
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provisi...
Curaçao celebrate first World Cup goal despite heavy defeat against Germany, Sweden move to top of Group F with five-goal display and Japan fight...
Monday 15th June, marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, a landmark agreement that formally elevated relations between ...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Curaçao celebrate first World Cup goal despite heavy defeat against Germany, Sweden move to top of Group F with five-goal display and Japan fight back twice to hold Netherlands.
Monday 15th June, marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Shusha Declaration, a landmark agreement that formally elevated relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye to the level of an alliance and further strengthened the long-standing ties between the two nations.
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are aiming to establish a railway connection linking the two countries through Syria and Jordan within the next three to four years, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
The UK has become the latest country to annouce a social media ban for children under 16. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on Monday, adding that he will impose restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms as well.
The stepson of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon has been found guilty of two counts of rape as well as domestic violence and other crimes and is sentenced to four years in prison, an Oslo court ruled on Monday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 15 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations will meet at a French lakeside resort on Monday against a backdrop of preliminary deal to end U.S. and Iran war reached by both sides.
Four people were killed while the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a symbol of Ukrainian spiritual and cultural history, caught fire, in the heaviest Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital in two weeks, authorities said on Monday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment