[Photos] Cheng Li-wun’s bid to reclaim the Kuomintang’s lost identity in cross-strait politics

(All photos courtesy of Hsu Chung-mao unless otherwise stated.)

Kuomintang (KMT) chair Cheng Li-wun visited Nanjing, Shanghai and Beijing in mainland China on the invitation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping, during which a dialogue was held, in a major contribution to peace amid the risk of war in cross-strait relations.

During her visit, Cheng not only showcased her wit and composure, but observers also noted that in her various speeches, she made efforts to rebuild the KMT’s principles, or in other words, to reshape the party spirit.

In particular, when visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, she expressed admiration for Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, and explained how, during Japanese rule, the people of Taiwan commemorated his passing and resisted Japanese colonialism, demonstrating the historical connection between Taiwan and mainland China. Such rhetoric did not come up before, and it shocked both sides of the strait.

The KMT was originally a revolutionary party in China, fighting for the survival and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Why did the party lose its party spirit? Mainly because when Lee Teng-hui was in power, he introduced the “anti-foreign regime” theory associated with Taiwan independence, portraying the KMT as a “foreign regime” without legitimacy to govern Taiwan. This fundamentally damaged the party’s soul.

No KMT leader had since attempted to reverse this narrative. Even during the Ma Ying-jeou administration, the party always bent to the discourse of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and even occasionally affirmed the contributions of Japanese colonialism. This ambiguity left the KMT as political punching bags, causing its cadres and members to lose clarity about what they were fighting for. Even when the KMT held a parliamentary majority, it lacked the initiative to shape cross-strait relations, because there was no historically grounded political framework to justify peaceful cooperation across the strait.

On 18 October 2025, Cheng Li-wun won against her KMT rivals with more than half of the total votes, becoming the new chair of the KMT. Her campaign platform included a clear assertion of her identity as Chinese, and support for “one China” and the “1992 Consensus”. This was in sharp contrast with the vague positions of other candidates, some of whom differed little from the DPP. 

Many municipal-level KMT leaders, as well as legislators, felt uneasy about Cheng’s declaration of belonging to the Chinese nation, as such an identity had long been stigmatised by the DPP. Rumours abounded, claiming that Cheng would drag down the party’s performance in the 2026 local elections.

In the second month after her election, Cheng attended a White Terror memorial event held at Machangding Memorial Park in Taipei. Between 1950 and 1954, at the height of the extension of the Chinese Civil War between Taiwan and the mainland, the KMT executed approximately 1,000 underground Chinese Communist cadres and members. At that time, these underground operatives engaged in sabotaging transport, supporting Communist propaganda, and assisting the People’s Liberation Army in preparing for landings and administrative takeover — essentially acting as spies. Their descendants hold annual memorial events at Machangding, where the executions took place.

Cheng attended in her capacity as party chair, emphasising that reconciliation between the KMT and the CCP should begin here. She faced strong criticism from within the KMT and from the DPP, accusing her of “commemorating communist spies”. She did not retreat from the criticism. In retrospect, she was laying the groundwork for deep reconciliation between the KMT and the CCP. 

This signifies that cross-strait reconciliation is not just a matter of business, but must be rooted in a deep historical context, imbued with humanitarian spirit and the inevitability of progress. Once realised, such reconciliation would establish deep mutual trust and a sense of unity within the Chinese nation.

It could be said that the first real step towards this historical narrative was at the opening of the Hsu Chung Mao Studio booth at the Taipei International Book Exhibition on 3 February this year. The ceremony was notable not only for its rich Chinese cultural atmosphere, but also because the studio specialises in publishing exquisite illustrated works on modern Chinese history, particularly focusing on the War of Resistance against Japan and Taiwan’s anti-Japanese history. 

Moreover, due to its close ties with the Korean cultural sector, the studio plans to co-produced a film with the Korean film industry about a Korean anti-Japanese martyr.

In 1928, Korean patriot Cho Myeong-ha attempted to assassinate Japanese prince Kuniyoshi Kuni in Taichung and died in the attempt. The film will depict his experiences in Korea and the assistance he received from Taiwanese anti-Japanese activists. Although the attempt ultimately failed, it testifies to the shared and heroic struggle of Korean and Taiwanese people against Japanese colonial rule.

Attendees at the ceremony included renowned Korean director Lee Eung-bok (noted for TV drama Descendants of the Sun), Kim Sang-ho, chairman of Cho Myeong-ha Research Association, Ms Amo from a Korean rights agency, and antiquarian book dealer TJ Kim. Given the strength of Korea’s cultural soft power, the ceremony effectively gathered influential international cultural figures. Cheng was invited to speak and elevated her remarks to the level of East Asian peace.

Here is her short speech:

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Today, I am deeply honoured to be invited to the opening of the Hsu Chung Mao Studio booth at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. Chung-mao has done an excellent job preserving and documenting the important historical archives of our party — indeed, even better than the party itself, which leaves me somewhat embarrassed.

Among the materials exhibited today are records of the footprints left in Taichung by Korean patriot Cho Myung-ha in the 1920s. This historical story reveals how the peoples of East Asia once supported one another and shared a common destiny in their pursuit of human rights.

I studied international relations at Cambridge. Before the discipline became independent, it belonged to the history faculty. When I was writing my doctoral thesis, my supervisor told me: “Any story worth telling should be written as history.”

After the Second World War, East Asia quickly entered the Cold War due to the Korean War. Different political positions led countries to interpret and narrate this shared past through political lenses. I hope that in the 21st century, we can restore this shared East Asian history, allowing everyone to see its true form.

East Asia was once weak, and the path of anti-colonial struggle was filled with blood and tears. Today, however, East Asia has become one of the most advanced and prosperous regions in the world. With this transformation, we can move beyond past sorrow and write our own story. I believe that the rise of East Asia does not mean inevitable conflict between civilisations; rather, human wisdom today allows different civilisations to respect, appreciate and embrace one another.

During the Cold War, East Asia was regarded as the “first island chain”, the frontline of war. Today, as we reflect on history, we hope that this first island chain will no longer symbolise conflict, but instead become the starting point of reconciliation and peace.

Chung-mao has also invited the renowned Korean director Lee Eung-bok to today’s event. Speaking of Cho Myeong-ha’s story, Director Lee has announced that he will initiate a cross-border film project to pass down this history that brings together Taiwanese anti-Japanese pioneers and the Korean spirit of national restoration.

I am deeply moved and look forward to this cooperation between Korea and Taiwan. We have confidence in Director Lee and believe he can produce a work that transcends borders and touches all humanity — hopefully not just a film, but even a television series. I have also declared: count me in! I will contribute money and effort and fully support this.

We sincerely hope that today’s young people will no longer need to sacrifice their lives, as Cho Myeong-ha once did, to secure the future of their nation. May we in East Asia transcend national boundaries and work together to contribute to regional peace.

Many thanks to Chung-mao, Director Lee and everyone present. Let us begin from East Asia and create a peaceful world together!”

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This speech did not draw much attention when posted on her Facebook page at the time. However, in light of her subsequent series of historically grounded speeches delivered in mainland China, it is now clear that this marked the first step in her effort to reshape the KMT’s party spirit, allowing her to take the initiative in shaping discourse. Doubts within the party have largely faded, while the DPP continues to strongly criticise her, but has fallen into a defensive position.

When Cheng departed Taipei for mainland China, only a handful of KMT figures saw her off; however, a large crowd gathered to welcome her back. She said she has now taken the first step to success, with ninety-nine more to go. 

She will be invited to visit the US in June this year, and she is expected to highlight the KMT’s important role among the Allied Powers during the Second World War — a part of history that the DPP has abandoned, but which will undoubtedly become a key historical asset repeatedly emphasised by the KMT.

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