Interview | KMT Vice Chairman Explains The Strategic Logic Behind Historic China Visit

Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) will lead a historic party delegation to mainland China from April 7 to April 12. This monumental diplomatic trip marks the first visit by a sitting KMT chairperson in a decade.

Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping (習近平) is widely expected to hold a highly anticipated personal meeting with Cheng. In an exclusive interview, KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) explained the strategic logic behind this crucial visit.

Chang emphasized that the upcoming diplomatic mission is fundamentally about preventing a disastrous cross-strait showdown that could trigger war. He argued that mutual trust and dialogue eliminate the dangerous need for a final military reckoning.

The delegation will officially visit Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing following the successful resumption of a KMT-CCP exchange forum. Chang is widely understood to be the principal architect behind the delicate negotiations that produced this invitation.

Addressing the diplomatic timing, Chang clarified that the schedule was worked out through mutual consultations based on respective political calendars. The KMT nomination process concludes in early April, while the mainland hosts its major legislative sessions in March.

Chang noted the United States originally scheduled President Donald Trump to visit China on March 31, which would have preceded Cheng. Because Washington unilaterally delayed Trump's trip by a month, the KMT delegation simply ended up arriving first.

This sequence clearly demonstrates that the highly anticipated Trump-Xi summit was never a particular consideration during the KMT-CCP consultations. Chang stressed that Taiwan Affairs Office Director Song Tao (宋濤) extended the formal invitation on behalf of Xi Jinping.

While international media heavily focus on a potential "Cheng-Xi meeting," Chang deferred entirely to the mainland host's final arrangements. He noted that official public statements and intense media speculation regarding the itinerary are not always perfectly aligned.

When officially announcing the visit, Cheng stated it would be firmly grounded in upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence. Chang emphasized that this exact formulation mirrors the successful diplomatic approach utilized during the 2005 Journey of Peace by former KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰).​

Chang argued that a final, permanent resolution of complex cross-strait relations is simply not something the KMT can achieve today. However, he noted there is still ample opportunity, time, and space for cross-strait integration if pursued carefully.

If Taiwan were to declare formal independence today, Chang warned that the mainland would immediately resort to overwhelming military force. Consequently, Taiwanese political parties must put forward viable cross-strait policies that open up peaceful possibilities for the island.

Today, the international community widely recognizes the volatile Taiwan Strait as an incredibly dangerous geopolitical flashpoint. Chang argued that strictly opposing Taiwan independence effectively avoids war, while upholding the 1992 Consensus actively pursues regional peace and bilateral communication.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has repeatedly advocated for peace through strength, but Chang warned that rhetoric alone cannot secure the island. He pointed out the massive disparity between the two sides, noting that mainland China's economic output is twenty-five times larger.

While the KMT strongly supports military arms procurement and adequate recruitment, Taiwan cannot rely solely on its current strength for confrontation. Chang introduced a crucial alternative concept, arguing that mutual trust and dialogue represent their own powerful form of strategic strength.

By establishing mutual trust, the two sides effectively eliminate the immediate need to reach a catastrophic military showdown. Chang believes Beijing's invitation strongly signals that the mainland also desperately wants to avoid a violent confrontation with Taiwan right now.

Beijing frequently describes peaceful unification as its primary choice, which inherently implies a violent second choice still exists. Chang explained that the KMT's immediate strategic goal is simply to prevent that dangerous second choice from ever being exercised.

Under the current administration, Chang warned that escalating cross-strait tensions seriously risk spiraling toward a devastating armed conflict. He argued the KMT must demonstrate to the public that it possesses the unique capacity to handle cross-strait relations peacefully.

While the 2005 summit produced a specific five-point vision, Cheng's upcoming visit does not necessarily require a similar joint communique. Chang emphasized that merely sitting down to jointly deliberate on regional peace is an enormously significant diplomatic achievement.

A full decade has unfortunately passed since a KMT chairperson last visited mainland China for diplomatic talks. The long-awaited resumption of that exchange represents a massive breakthrough at a moment when the Taiwan Strait remains a dangerous military flashpoint.

When asked about potential American pressure regarding the visit, Chang insisted the KMT has faced absolutely no pushback from Washington. He noted that the lingering danger of war in the Taiwan Strait places immense pressure across the American government.

If two major political parties across the strait can sit down to discuss peace, Chang argued the United States would inherently support it. With the American military currently tied down in Iran, Washington lacks the capacity for another conflict.

Chang recalled historical conversations where American diplomats acknowledged their inability to fight multiple major wars simultaneously across the globe. Given the current Middle East crisis, a sudden Taiwan Strait eruption would severely overstretch American military capabilities.

Ultimately, the KMT's unique ability to negotiate with the mainland serves vital American geopolitical interests regarding Asia-Pacific stability. Washington would strongly welcome any successful diplomatic efforts that effectively de-escalate the mounting tensions across the volatile Taiwan Strait. （Related： Agentic AI Promises Efficiency, Carries Serious Security Risks ｜ Latest ）