The Kuomintang completed the election of its 12th party chairperson on October 18, with former legislator Zheng Liwen winning the race. She is not only the party’s second female chairperson but also the first to come from the Democratic Progressive Party. Currently, the great changes over the past century in the world are accelerating, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable. It is expected that the two parties will uphold their common political foundation, unite the broad masses of compatriots in Taiwan, strengthen the pride, confidence, and resolve of being Chinese, deepen exchanges and cooperation, promote common development, advance national reunification, steadfastly safeguard the shared homeland of the Chinese nation, protect the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait, and work together to create a brighter future for the Chinese nation. Zheng Liwen replied to the letter on the same day, expressing gratitude to General Secretary Xi Jinping.
Cheng Li-wen delivered a speech after being elected chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) on the 18th. Visual China
The election was won by a majority of the votes
In his reply, Cheng Li-wen said that in 1992 both sides of the Taiwan Strait had reached a consensus on upholding the one-china principle through verbal expressions. On the basis of the 1992 consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence, the two parties have made many historic achievements in promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are of the same Descendants of Yan and Huang and belong to the Chinese nation. The two parties should, on the basis of the existing foundation, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, promote peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and seek the greatest benefits for the people on both sides of the strait, open up a great future for national rejuvenation.
The KMT chairman election of the total number of more than 330,000 people, 130,000 votes cast, the turnout rate of 39.46% , of which nearly 130,000 valid votes. Cheng Li-wen won with 65,122 votes, with 50.15% of the vote, while his main rival, former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin, received 46,551 votes, with 35.85% .
In his speech after his election, Cheng Li-wen first thanked his rival and KMT chairman Eric Chu, saying that the KMT should shelter its members from the storm, and more importantly, the Taiwanese people from the storm. Cheng Li-wen also spoke of three principles: first, never allow the island to become a “Troublemaker”, second, never allow it to become a “Geopolitical victim”, and third, the KMT should shoulder its responsibilities as a regional“Peacemaker”. She called on the DPP to stop hating and tearing, return to healthy competition, stop playing the“Anti-china and anti-china card”, and stop selling out the welfare of the Taiwanese people for personal politics. She promised that “The Kuomintang will become the largest party in Taiwan during my term of office” and that the 2028 will achieve “Complete governance” and political party rotation, fulfilling the mission of peace, co-prosperity and Republic between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
A spokesman for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) , Wu Zheng, gave the KMT“Two expectations and one reminder”, Taiwan’s Yonhap news website said Monday, saying that the opposition and the government give priority to Taiwan’s security and“Sovereignty”, kuomintang in the“Legislative” can be rational supervision and political, remind the Kuomintang to face the mainland“Infiltration. As a result, the KMT responded directly on Facebook, “Who are you?” KMT spokesman Yang Zhixuan also responded with a message: “What do you want?”
On the 18th, Huang Kuo-chang, the chairman of the Democratic Party of China (DPJ) , immediately telephoned to congratulate them and once again proposed a “Coalition government”. He hoped that in the future, the DPJ and the KMT could continue to deepen exchanges on policies and ideas and gradually build up mutual trust, set an example of joint governance. Analysts say the 2026 will be a test of how G.D. Lam Pak will fare in the first election for the KMT’s new chairman.
“The DPP’s worst fears have finally come true.”
“The most feared opponent of the green camp,” Taiwan’s“China Times” on the 19th as a headline comment that the DPP’s worst fears have finally happened. Cheng Li-wen, who knows the Green Camp Best, was elected party leader by an overwhelming majority, showing that KMT members appreciate her fighting prowess. Cheng Li-wen, a former member of the DPP who knows the politics of the green camp, now leads the Blue Camp, “The first political opinion to be fulfilled is to forge the Kuomintang from ‘tame sheep’ into ‘wolves who can fight’ .”.
Cheng Li-wen became the second woman to lead the KMT after Hung Hsiu-chu, according to the economic daily. Cheng Li-wen is also the first DPP leader in the history of the Kuomintang, T?mori said. She was born in November 1969 in Yunlin County and grew up in Tainan village, where her father was a mainlander. She was an avid campaigner when she studied law at Taiwan University and joined the DPP after graduation. In 2002, Cheng Li-wen broke with the green camp over the “Licking ears case,” and since then her argument has moved closer to the blue camp. In 2004, when the Kuomintang protested against unfair elections, Cheng Li-wen served as a moderator and “Was seen as the official turning point from green to blue”. That same year, Cheng Li-wen ran as an independent for the Kaohsiung City “Legislature” but lost. The following year, at the invitation of Lien Chan, then chairman of the Kuomintang, he joined the Kuomintang as chairman of the cultural mission and became a “Legislator” in 2008. This year, she formed a“Grand coalition of out-of-party opposition” to counter the DPP’s general ouster.
In response to Cheng Li-wen’s victory, Yau Ying-lung, chairman of the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, said it was definitely a super shock bomb, “The Kuomintang of the 100-year-old party has reached a historic crossroads and is facing an unprecedented and historic change.”. “The KMT has been in opposition for nine years,” the central news agency said. “The mood among the party members is so high that the outspoken and aggressive Cheng Li-wen naturally meets the expectations.”, many expected her to be as vocal in her criticism of the ruling party as she had been as a legislator, and Cheng Li-wen’s support from the Electoral College was key to her victory. “In a word, the most important reason is that most KMT members seek new ideas and change,” you concluded. Cheng Li-wen knows what young people like and is good at online propaganda. He is also from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and knows better how the DPP will vote, will put a lot of pressure on the DPP.
We must make the Taiwanese feel confident to say, “I am Chinese.”
Yonhap concluded that Cheng Li-wen’s four tasks after taking office include integration, transformation, discourse, “Tuilu.”. Among other things, how she will handle cross-strait relations has received a lot of attention. During the election campaign, Cheng Li-wen urged the Kuomintang to vigorously promote cross-strait exchanges and dialogue on the basis of the 1992 consensus to build a century-long foundation of peace between the two sides. She stressed that to strengthen the cultural and identity discourse, the Kuomintang should allow all Taiwanese to confidently say, “I am Chinese.”.
Ma Ying-jeou expressed congratulations to Cheng Li-wen and encouraged her to adhere to the 1992 consensus, oppose “Taiwan independence” and promote cross-strait relations, Xiao xucen, chief executive of the MA ying-jeou Foundation, said on the 18th, and to promote blue-white cooperation, won next year county and municipal elections and local 2028 led the KMT back to “Power.”. Old cadres and new branches must“Go far together”, the KMT can get better and better, for the Taiwan people to bring cross-strait peace and well-being.
Zhao Chunshan, an emeritus professor of Taiwanese Tamkang University and a senior adviser to the Kuomintang, told the global times on the 19th that he expected Cheng Li-wen to strive for more autonomy in cross-strait relations. “Taiwan can not simply follow the lead of the US, but should think about the future from the perspective of its own interests and the overall interests of the Chinese nation. Both the KMT and Taiwanese society are hoping that Cheng Li-wen will find a different approach to the new international order and that the KMT will be reborn from the ashes. That’s what Cheng Li-wen’s election is all about. It’s both a challenge and an opportunity.”