Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun has sparked controversy by travelling to China to promote what she calls a “peace” initiative, while lawmakers in Taipei criticized her party, the Kuomintang (KMT), for skipping critical defence budget discussions. Cheng, chairwoman of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, delivered her message of reconciliation in Shanghai on Thursday, emphasizing diplomacy over militarization amid rising tensions with Beijing.
Poetic Appeals for Peace
Speaking at Shanghai’s Yangshan Port, Cheng invoked poetic imagery, saying, “What should fly in the sky are birds, not missiles. What should swim in the water are fish, not warships.” She further referenced John McCrae’s World War One poem In Flanders Fields, urging respect for the past while emphasizing the need to secure peace for future generations. Cheng’s trip, which will take her to Beijing for a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is framed as an effort to reduce cross-strait tensions at a time when China has intensified military pressure around the island.
Domestic Backlash in Taipei
Her visit has drawn sharp criticism at home. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) condemned the KMT for skipping crucial parliamentary talks on the island’s stalled plans to allocate an additional $40 billion to defence. “Don’t intentionally put this off because of the meeting with Xi Jinping tomorrow. Don’t link this to the Chinese communists,” said DPP lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting, co-chair of the defence and foreign affairs committee.
KMT Defends Its Stance
The KMT responded by asserting that Cheng’s “peace visit” is independent of the defence budget, stressing that the party continues to support strong defence spending but will not approve unrestricted funding. Spokespersons from Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council expressed hope that Cheng could use her engagement with China to urge Beijing to halt military harassment and respect the Taiwanese people’s right to determine their future.
Continued Chinese Military Pressure
Despite Cheng’s presence in China, Beijing has continued its military activities around Taiwan. Taiwan’s defence ministry reported detecting six Chinese military aircraft and eight warships in the vicinity over the previous 24 hours. The DPP underscored that Cheng’s diplomacy has yet to deter Beijing’s aggressive posture. “The facts prove that the Chinese communists’ military threat against Taiwan is intensifying,” wrote DPP lawmaker Michelle Lin.
The Broader Political Context
President Lai Ching-te has repeatedly offered direct talks with Beijing, which the Chinese government refuses, insisting on sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Lai maintains that only the Taiwanese people can determine the island’s political future, positioning his administration at odds with Cheng’s overtures to Beijing.
Balancing Diplomacy and Defence
Cheng’s peace mission reflects a complex balancing act: seeking dialogue to reduce tensions while navigating domestic political pressures and criticism over perceived undermining of Taiwan’s defence planning. As cross-strait relations remain tense, the trip highlights the persistent divide in Taiwanese politics between engagement and deterrence strategies in the face of Chinese military assertiveness.
With information from Reuters.
