The incoming leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party today delivered a fiery 15-minute speech to rally her party against what she called an erosion of democracy caused by the country’s ruling party.
In her address at the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) annual national congress, Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) described Taiwan as living through “the worst of times,” citing military threats from China and democratic backsliding. She pledged to “set things right” and transform the party into “the most influential civic organization in Taiwan” by rebuilding public trust and hope.
Cheng criticized the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has been in power since 2016, for undermining the rule of law and fueling divisions and hatred in society, accusing it of “disdaining the legislative majority, controlling the media and manipulating the judiciary.” “Taiwan’s democracy hangs in the balance, its security faces constant war threats and its economic miracle and semiconductors could be hollowed out,” Cheng warned.
Cheng seeks a shift toward pragmatic engagement with Beijing amid rising cross-strait tensions. She rejects Beijing’s “one Country, two systems” model but she seeks to pursue a more “China friendly” approach to cross-strait relations.
Cheng has also drawn criticisms for her recent interview with German public media Deutsche Welle, Cheng reframed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine not as unprovoked aggression but as a reaction to NATO’s broken promise against eastward expansion. “This is the core reason for the Ukraine war,” she said. Defending Vladimir Putin as democratically elected, Cheng urged viewing the conflict through context rather than caricature.
Addressing recent prosecutions and investigations targeting multiple KMT officials, Cheng struck a defiant tone, declaring the party “stronger after every setback.” She announced the immediate creation of a “Justice Lawyers Rescue Team” and a 10 million New Taiwan dollar ($305,000) fund to support persecuted members and staff. “We will never leave our comrades to fight alone, and we will not let the DPP underestimate the KMT,” Cheng said.
Cheng also called for transforming the KMT from a “herd of sheep to a pride of lions,” guided by “kindness and mindfulness” to create a new political order that protects the vulnerable and restores fairness. “We are not a pack of wolves fighting violence with violence, but lions on the savanna, bringing back kindness and justice to Taiwan,” she added.
Cheng, who visited the Buddhist charity group Tzu Chi (慈濟) after her victory, was inspired to create a new acronym for the KMT’s English initials: “Kindness, Mindfulness and Team.” She envisions the KMT not just as a political force but as “Taiwan’s most vital and influential civic group.”
To broaden the KMT base, Cheng urged the party’s 2,000 delegates to each recruit 100 new members each in an attempt to create an island-wide majority. “We need to attract more young people and elites from all sectors,” she said. The KMT has 331,410 paid members currently.
Cheng closed by thanking former KMT Chair Eric Chu (朱立倫) for his steadfast leadership through electoral victories and defeats. The KMT will uphold “truth and great love” to restore confidence among Taiwan’s 23 million people, Cheng promised. “The KMT must show ambition, backbone and fight for respect — becoming the most solid force for all Taiwanese.”
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