KMT Chairwoman Visits Chinese Mainland, Urging Cross-Strait Peace at Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum

1. Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, called for ending cross-strait hostility during her historic visit to mainland China on April 8, the first by a sitting KMT chairwoman in nearly a decade [para. 1]. She led a delegation from Taipei to Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport on Tuesday noon, then to Nanjing, paying respects at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum on Wednesday before a speech [para. 2]. The trip (April 7-12) covers Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing, following Hung Hsiu-chu’s 2016 visit; former chair Ma Ying-jeou visited four times (2023-2025) [para. 3].

2. Cheng reflected on her role 21 years prior as spokesperson for Lien Chan’s historic 2005 “journey of peace” [para. 4]. The group bowed, laid flowers, observed silence at Sun’s statue (China’s founding father), toured the tomb, and spoke at Bo'ai Square [para. 5]. “Today, returning... after 21 years, my heart is filled with deep emotion,” she said [para. 6].

3. Cheng recounted Taiwanese mourning Sun’s 1925 death under 30 years of Japanese rule, where identity was awkward and grief suppressed unlike on the mainland [para. 7][para. 8]. Memorials faced bans on songs and eulogies [para. 9]. She quoted activist Chiang Wei-shui: “Imagine the 400 million citizens crying... tears surge” [para. 10].

4. Tracing history from Japanese invasion, Chinese Civil War, to KMT’s “White Terror” in Taiwan, Cheng noted the unhealed “wound... of Japanese imperialism” from the Sino-Japanese War 130 years ago [para. 11]. She recalled inviting imprisoned activist Chen Ming-chung (21 years jailed, faced death penalty) to KMT HQ before 2005 [para. 12], quoting him: ending hostility via peace agreement is KMT’s duty, rooted in Civil War [para. 13]. Chen died in Shanghai 2019; Xinhua hailed him as patriot and unification leader [para. 14].

5. Cheng concluded: “planting seeds of peace” for Chinese on both sides and humanity, invoking Sun’s “world belongs to the public” for equality, reconciliation, unity, prosperity [para. 15][para. 16]. Delegation included vice chairs Lee Chien-lung, Chang Jung-kung, Hsiao Hsu-tsen, and Su Chi (“1992 Consensus” proposer) [para. 17].

6. On April 7, Song Tao (CCP Taiwan Work Office head) hosted a banquet, calling the visit a major event aligning with Taiwanese peace desires [para. 18]. Amid “complex and severe” strait situation, parties share cross-strait responsibilities [para. 19]. Song’s three expectations: pursue peace via “1992 Consensus”/anti-independence (2005 foundation), criticizing DPP as foreign pawns [para. 20]; “not tolerate... destruction of Chinese nation’s homeland” [para. 21]; compatriots’ well-being [para. 22]; national rejuvenation (Sun’s wish), welcoming Taiwanese to modernization [para. 23]. He foresaw Cheng witnessing Xi/CCP achievements, advancing relations [para. 24].

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