Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday emphasized peace as the foundation for cross-strait prosperity during her visit to Shanghai, saying it was the “greatest gift” she hoped to take back to Taiwan, even as China announced military drills in the Yellow Sea.
Speaking at Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Cheng reflected on the city’s history and transformation, describing Shanghai as a place of cultural vibrancy and historical tragedy shaped by war and conflict.
“Peace can make everything possible,” she said, adding that while previous generations endured war, it remained possible to secure peace for current and future generations.
Photo: CNA
“The skies should be for birds, not missiles, and the sea for fish, not warships,” Cheng said.
Leaning into the historical ties of some Taiwanese to China, Cheng referenced wars in the 19th and 20th centuries leading up to the KMT’s retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after its defeat by the Chinese Communist Party.
“In 1949, this place became a port of farewell. Many elders we knew boarded ships here, casting a final glance at their homeland, trying to remember it,” she said. “Many of them never returned.”
Quoting Canadian poet John McCrae and Chinese writer Lu Xun (魯迅), Cheng underscored the high price of peace and urged continued dialogue and exchange, saying mutual trust must be built incrementally.
She also said the trip offered insights into China’s rapid development, including advances in artificial intelligence and digital economy sectors.
Taiwanese businesspeople and young professionals are increasingly exploring opportunities in Shanghai, she said, calling for closer cooperation to leverage complementary strengths in technology and services.
Cheng’s remarks came as she led a delegation on a six-day visit to China that concludes on Sunday, during which she has met with local officials and industry representatives.
She was to depart for Beijing later yesterday, where it is reported she might meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) today.
Meanwhile, China’s Dalian Maritime Affairs Bureau announced that the military was to hold live-fire drills in the northern Yellow Sea from 10am to 6pm yesterday.
In addition, six Chinese aircraft, eight navy vessels and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan in the 24 hours that ended at 6am yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense said in its daily update.
Five of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zones, it said.
Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said he hoped Cheng could tell China to stop military harassment and to respect the wishes of Taiwanese to determine their own future.
“Using poetic expressions, or trying to convey demands in a veiled manner, is meaningless,” Liang said.
As the leader of a political party, Cheng should address cross-strait issues head-on and be forthright about Taiwan’s demands if she meets with Xi, he added.
During their meeting, Cheng should explicitly call on Beijing to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China and immediately cease its military harassment, and she should tell him that Taiwan’s future must be decided in accordance with the will of its people, Liang said.
“The bombs have started to fly even before the seeds of peace sown by Cheng could take root,” Democratic Progressive Party spokeswoman Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) said in a statement, referencing the live-fire drills.
The KMT should stop sloganeering and not count on a “dictator” to realize its longing for peace, Lin added.
Additional reporting by Fang Wei-li, Fion Khan and Reuters
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