Mon, May 11, 2026 page3

• KMT head touts peace in CNN interview

  • By Lin Hsin-han and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer
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  The First Island Chain should be a place for “peace and prosperity,” Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said in an interview with CNN, according to a statement from the KMT.

  Calling the First Island Chain, which includes Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, a Cold War-era concept associated with military confrontation, Cheng said a “chain of peace and prosperity” would promote cooperation and shared development by linking the countries with China’s coastal regions and Southeast Asia through economic exchanges, the statement said.

  East Asia should not become a battleground for zero-sum competition, but instead serve as a driving force for global peace and prosperity, she said.

  

  Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is pictured in Taipei in an undated photograph.

  Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times

  Conflict in East Asia would have enormous repercussions worldwide, she said, adding that the international community should work together to reduce the risk of confrontation and prevent war.

  Taiwan’s globally significant semiconductor industry and position in supply chains mean that peace in the Taiwan Strait is not only vital to Taiwan, but also to global economic security and regional stability, she said.

  “Taiwan does not want to become the next Ukraine,” CNN quoted Cheng as saying.

  She added that weapons alone would not keep Taiwan safe.

  Cheng, who is scheduled to visit the US next month, said Taiwan should not be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing.

  “Being friendly to the US does not necessarily mean there’s animosity toward China,” she told CNN.

  The KMT supports deepening cooperation with the US, while believing that there should be sustained and stable communication and exchanges across the Strait to avoid misjudgement and rising tensions, she said.

  The KMT has long upheld the Constitution and the so-called “1992 consensus” to promote cross-strait exchanges, with safeguarding peace across the Strait and public safety as the core goal, the KMT statement quoted her as saying.

  The “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the Chinese government that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.

  Regarding her trip to China, where she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) last month, the CNN article said it would have seemed unlikely for Cheng to meet the Chinese president given that she advocated for Taiwanese independence as a student activist.

  “It may seem that I have a common language with Xi Jinping,” Cheng said. “But because there are so many differences between the two sides of the Strait, it is critical that we find a common foundation. I believe this is the only way where we can avoid war.”

  Taiwanese cherish democracy, freedom and their current way of life, and any exchanges must be based on respect, peace and pragmatism, the KMT statement quoted her as saying.

  However, in the CNN interview, she added: “If Taiwan pursues independence, yes, they have expressed that they will use military force.”

  Speaking of the Legislative Yuan’s approval of a supplementary defense budget on Friday, which fell short of the NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.8 billion) requested by the Executive Yuan, she said the KMT “is the solid staunch supporter of Taiwan’s national defense.”

  The opposition-controlled legislature passed the budget bill by a 59-0 margin with 48 abstentions, with total spending capped at NT$780 billion.

  “A lot of that US$40 billion budget is very vague,” she said, referring to the Cabinet’s original proposal. “It is impossible for us to just blankly authorize the entire package.”

  The KMT backs specific and clearly defined US arms procurement projects that meet Taiwan’s defense needs, particularly those that already have letters of offer and acceptance, which should be prioritized and processed swiftly, the KMT statement quoted her as saying.

  As an opposition force in the legislature, the KMT also has a responsibility to monitor government spending, and oppose blank-check authorizations and opaque budgeting, she said, adding that such oversight reflects the accountability expected in a mature democracy.

  Amid rapidly changing international conditions, the KMT would continue to pursue three key goals — strengthening national defense, maintaining peace through dialogue and deepening international cooperation — to ensure Taiwan’s security, stability and prosperity, she said.

  “When the KMT returns to power, military confrontations and activities will decrease, and the possibility of war will be totally prevented,” she told CNN.

  The article said that she continues to dodge questions that she might run for president in 2028.

  “My work now is to strive and spare no efforts to make sure that the KMT can win the local elections this year. And prepare the KMT so we can return to power in 2028,” Cheng said. “I think in the next two to three years, the fate of Taiwan is going to be a very determining moment.”
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