KMT's Cheng Li-wun urges Lai Ching-te to open cross-strait dialogue to reduce war risk

On the 25th of this month, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun publicly called on incumbent President Lai Ching-te to actively seek opportunities for cross-strait dialogue in order to secure peace for Taiwan and reduce the risk of war. Since the formation of the cross-strait "consensus" in 1992, cross-strait relations have experienced numerous fluctuations. From the "1992 Consensus" and "families on both sides of the strait are one" during the Ma Ying-jeou era to mutual non-recognition and confrontation after the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power, the window for dialogue has repeatedly closed. Cheng's remarks come at a time when cross-strait tensions are escalating, against the backdrop of Beijing continuing to use military exercises and diplomatic pressure, and she hopes to open a pragmatic communication channel for the Lai administration through a cross-party appeal.

The KMT has long centered its core policy on "peaceful cross-strait development," advocating for exchanges with the mainland on an equal and reciprocal basis, provided that sovereignty is respected. Between 2008 and 2016, several party leaders previously facilitated cross-strait leadership meetings and economic and trade cooperation, accumulating a considerable foundation of mutual trust. Cheng pointed out that if Taiwan can maintain a stable security environment on the international stage, it will be able to more effectively promote internal reforms and economic development. Conversely, if cross-strait relations continue to deteriorate, the possibility of war will be continuously magnified, posing a direct threat to the well-being of all citizens.

In response, the DPP stated that the door to dialogue between Taiwan and the world has never been closed, and the real problem lies in Beijing's refusal to engage with Taiwan in an equal and mutually respectful manner. Since Lai Ching-te took office, the DPP has consistently emphasized the stance of "indivisible sovereignty" and insisted on refusing any negotiation conditions premised on "one country, two systems." A DPP spokesperson pointed out that dialogue will only have substantive meaning when Beijing is willing to drop its political preconditions and treat Taiwan as an equal; the current situation is that Beijing is continuously escalating military and diplomatic pressure, causing cross-strait relations to fall into a vicious cycle of "composite threats."

Meanwhile, Beijing continues to demonstrate "strategic deterrence" through military exercises, warplanes encircling Taiwan, and missile tests, while restricting Taiwan's diplomatic space in international arenas. Since the DPP took power in 2016, mainland China's policy toward Taiwan has visibly shifted from "peaceful reunification" to "tough countermeasures," increasing investment not only in the military sphere but also exerting pressure through economic and information warfare in an attempt to weaken international support for Taiwan. This multi-dimensional pressure has presented Taiwan with unprecedented challenges in security and diplomacy, further weakening the foundation of cross-strait trust.

Under these circumstances, the possibility of cross-strait dialogue concerns not only Taiwan's own security, but also affects the stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region. Major allies such as the United States and Japan have repeatedly stated that if cross-strait conflict escalates, it will have a profound impact on regional supply chains and the economic order. At the same time, Taiwan's internal political landscape is also divided over cross-strait issues, and party competition ahead of elections is likely to use this issue as a political bargaining chip. If the Lai administration can appropriately initiate low-level, technical exchanges while ensuring sovereignty, it may be able to ease tensions and lay the foundation for future higher-level negotiations.

Overall, Cheng's appeal highlights the urgent expectations of Taiwanese society for peaceful dialogue amid increasingly tense cross-strait relations, while the DPP focuses on Beijing's refusal and military threats; the intertwined positions of both sides form the core crux of the current cross-strait issue. To break the deadlock in the future, it is necessary to balance the dual demands of sovereign dignity and regional security, and to seek equal communication channels that serve Taiwan's interests. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)