Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun stated that while Taiwan and China are independent sovereign states, they both belong to "one China" during a lectureat Soochow University on the evening of December 22.
The answer was in response to a student's question about Cheng's position onnominal Taiwanese independence, which the KMT has historically opposed due to worries it could exacerbate Cross-Strait tensions. Cheng stated that her view was written into the Taiwanese constitution.
In response, Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council Li Wenzhe critiqued Cheng during a press interview before giving a legislative report on December 24. Li commented that Cheng should focus on defending Taiwan, rather than discussing "one China" every day.
Li noted that Cheng could study Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan'an on how to prioritize Taiwan first. Chiang was originally scheduled to lead a delegation to Shanghai on December 27 and 28 for the Twin Cities Forum, but later cut the trip short to a half day to attend local events in mourning of the recent mass killing in Taipei. （Related： Taiwan’s 2026 Labor Overhaul: Higher Pay, Better Leave, Later Retirement ｜ Latest ）
