Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), pledged on Wednesday to uphold the legacy of the party’s founder, Sun Yat-sen, by promoting reconciliation with China. During her visit to Sun’s mausoleum in Nanjing, she commended China’s progress since the communist revolution, emphasizing the importance of unity and peace across the Taiwan Strait.
Cheng’s visit comes amid heightened Chinese military pressure on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. This tension coincides with Taiwan’s opposition-led parliament delaying a government proposal for an additional $40 billion in defense spending. On her first full day in China, Cheng laid a wreath at the tomb of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China and former leader of the KMT government before it retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
Highlighting Sun’s ideals, Cheng stated that his vision of equality, inclusiveness, and unity remains central. She urged efforts to foster reconciliation and regional prosperity between Taiwan and China. Sun Yat-sen, who ended imperial rule and established the Republic of China in 1912, is revered both in Taiwan and by the Chinese Communist Party, which regards him as a national hero. Mao Zedong once called him a “great revolutionary forerunner.”
Cheng acknowledged that the KMT had embraced Sun’s principles, transforming Taiwan into a free and democratic society, while also recognizing the island’s difficult history under martial law during the “white terror” period lasting 38 years until 1987. She also praised the mainland’s remarkable development, which has surpassed expectations.
Despite Taiwan’s multi-party democracy, China maintains strict control over dissent. Security was notably tight during Cheng’s visit. Student Yang Zihang, 19, expressed hope that her trip would encourage peaceful exchanges across the strait. China refuses to engage with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist,” while Lai insists that Taiwan’s future should be decided solely by its people. Neither side formally recognizes the other’s government.
Cheng described her mission as one of peace, supporting defense spending but advocating for a balance with dialogue. However, Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Wu Cheng criticized the KMT for obstructing defense funding, arguing that peace must be protected by Taiwan’s own strength rather than relying on authoritarian goodwill.
The DPP government has urged Cheng to convey to Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping if she meets him, the need to halt military harassment of Taiwan and respect the islanders’ right to self-determination. Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen refrained from commenting on party politics but highlighted China’s strategy of combining military intimidation with incentives to create instability and psychological pressure in Taiwan. This approach aims to divide Taiwanese society, amplify pro-China sentiments, and hinder U.S. arms procurement efforts.
