The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced on Jan. 28 that they will hold a “Forward-Looking Forum on Cross-Strait Exchanges and Cooperation” between the two parties' think tanks in Beijing in early February, marking the first resumption of the KMT-CCP platform in nine years.
KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) said at the party's Central Standing Committee meeting that while the United States has long been a benefactor to Taiwan, mainland China is regarded as family. She said the Republic of China would never forget U.S. support from World War II through the postwar period, but would also never engage in what she described as “fratricidal conflict,” arguing that Taiwan does not need to choose between the United States and China.
Cheng described the upcoming forum as an important first step, saying the KMT intends to continue and expand the KMT-CCP platform as part of efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. In a 26-minute address, she said that as cross-strait tensions rise and global attention intensifies, the KMT is seeking what she characterized as an alternative path amid an escalating spiral of hostility — one aimed at reconciliation and a thaw in relations. She added that the party would refuse to act as a regional troublemaker or allow Taiwan to become a geopolitical pawn, and instead sees a role for Taiwan as a peacemaker.
She noted that exchanges under the KMT-CCP platform have been suspended for nine years, a period during which both mainland China and Taiwan have developed leading capabilities in key technologies. Against the backdrop of shared challenges such as climate change–related disaster response and energy security, Cheng said both sides require advanced technologies and are willing to engage in exchanges, mutual learning and potentially future cooperation.
Cheng said this year's gathering is framed as a forward-looking forum on cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and expressed appreciation to Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office for swiftly arranging the restart of the KMT-CCP forum and reestablishing links between the two sides' think tanks. While acknowledging that the KMT is currently an opposition party, she said the platform has drawn attention because high-level political will could help resolve many issues, adding that the party hopes to build a bridge for communication across the Taiwan Strait.
She also criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for what she described as a consistently destructive approach, and accused a “media rumor supply chain” of fabricating claims about forum ticket fees and alleged political conditions. Cheng stressed that aside from adherence to the 1992 Consensus (九二共識) and opposition to Taiwan independence, there are no additional preconditions or quid pro quos for cross-strait exchanges, noting that no such conditions were required in past KMT-CCP contacts under former KMT Chair Lien Chan and former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
Reiterating a remark she attributed to a friend — that “the United States was once our benefactor, but mainland China is our kin” — Cheng said the Republic of China would never forget America’s friendship from World War II through the postwar period, but would also never engage in what she described as fratricidal conflict. She argued that, for this reason, Taiwan does not need to choose between Washington and Beijing, and expressed hope that cross-strait reconciliation could contribute to broader cooperation between the United States and China.
On speculation about a possible meeting between herself and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平), Cheng said that once any decision is finalized, the KMT would immediately hold a press conference to explain the details, making further conjecture unnecessary. She also pointed to recent remarks by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit to mainland China, in which he said there is no need to choose sides between the U.S. and China — a position Cheng said Taiwan also shares.
Cheng concluded by saying that the KMT “serves only the people,” regardless of party affiliation, arguing that war would bring destruction and death to all political camps, while peace would bring prosperity and development. She expressed hope that the DPP would stop treating the KMT as a mortal enemy.
