Newly inaugurated Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday pledged that her party would defend democracy and revive the economy, while opposing the government’s plan to increase defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP next year.
Cheng made the remarks as she succeeded Eric Chu (朱立倫) in a handover ceremony at the party’s 22nd National Congress in Taipei, attended by KMT officials including Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安).
Cheng said Taiwan faces heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait and a rapidly changing global economic order.
Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO, EPA
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) long-term rule is eroding Taiwan’s democracy and rule of law, she said, adding that the KMT bears a heavy responsibility to restore order and address the nation’s problems.
Cheng said the party is confident it can demonstrate unprecedented unity and pledged that under her leadership, it would defend democracy and freedom, revive the economy, and pursue long-term cross-strait peace.
The KMT hopes to turn “Taiwan’s worst times into its best” while continuing to reform, grow stronger and attract young talent, she added.
Cheng said she hopes the KMT would not only be Taiwan’s most important and largest political party, but also an organization that serves the public interest, helping vulnerable communities and assisting people in every corner of Taiwan.
Chu urged the party to unite under Cheng’s leadership, saying that only through unity can the party grow stronger and better.
“We only have one KMT and unity is our only path,” Chu said.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse yesterday before the event, Cheng said that Taiwan cannot afford to hike its defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP.
“The US’ expectations far exceed what we can reasonably afford,” Cheng said.
“Taiwan is not an ATM. We really do not have that much money,” she said.
“We certainly have the determination to defend Taiwan, but it is not a blank check. That is why I said we must have a reasonable defense budget,” she added.
The government has proposed a budget of NT$949.5 billion (US$30.88 billion), or 3.32 percent of GDP, for defense spending next year.
It is also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion over seven years in special funding to upgrade the nation’s air defense systems, and increase capacity to produce and store ammunition for wartime.
It is unclear how many KMT lawmakers support Cheng’s views, but she insists it is the “vast majority” of the party.
Chu previously said the party supported increasing defense spending to more than 3 percent of GDP, but opposed Taiwan buying US weapons and equipment to resolve its trade deficit.
“If cross-strait relations are peaceful and stable, we do not need a pointless arms race,” Cheng said, adding that dialogue with Beijing was the best option.
The “status quo” between Taiwan and China “cannot remain unchanged forever,” Cheng said, adding that that there would inevitably be a “process of change.”
“What we are working hard for now is to prevent it from escalating into war, but rather toward reconciliation and peace,” she said, adding she is willing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
Trips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes and
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today released images of the military tracking China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) movements during the latest round of Chinese drills around Taiwan. The PLA began "Justice Mission 2025" drills today, carrying out live-fire drills, simulated strikes on land and maritime targets, and exercises to blockade the nation's main ports. The exercises are to continue tomorrow, with the PLA announcing sea and air space restrictions for five zones around Taiwan for 10 hours starting from 8:30am. The ministry today released images showing a Chinese J-16 fighter jet tracked by a F-16V Block 20 jet and the
Snow fell on Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山) yesterday morning as a continental cold air mass sent temperatures below freezing on Taiwan’s tallest peak, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Snowflakes were seen on Yushan’s north peak from 6:28am to 6:38am, but they did not fully cover the ground and no accumulation was recorded, the CWA said. As of 7:42am, the lowest temperature recorded across Taiwan was minus-5.5°C at Yushan’s Fengkou observatory and minus-4.7°C at the Yushan observatory, CWA data showed. On Hehuanshan (合歡山) in Nantou County, a low of 1.3°C was recorded at 6:39pm, when ice pellets fell at Songsyue Lodge (松雪樓), a
NO SHAME IN RETREAT: Hikers should consider turning back if the weather turns bad or if they do not have sufficient equipment, the Taroko park headquarters said Two people died of hypothermia over the weekend while hiking on Hsuehshan (雪山), prompting park authorities to remind hikers to bring proper equipment and consider their physical condition before setting out in the cold weather. Temperatures dropped over the weekend, bringing snow to high altitudes in Shei-pa National Park. One hiker, surnamed Lin (林), who on Friday was traveling with a group of six along the Hsuehshan west ridge trail, lost consciousness due to hypothermia and died, the Shei-pa National Park Headquarters said. On Saturday, another hiker, surnamed Tien (田), in a group of five on the southeast of the west
RSS