Cheng Li-wen Discusses Japanese Militarism at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; MAC: Catering to CCP Propaganda
Cheng Li-wen visited Nanjing's Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and spoke about Sun Yat-sen founding the Republic of China. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) criticized her remarks as a 'special protection zone' tactic by the CCP. MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh stated that Cheng's portrayal of Sun Yat-sen as an anti-Japanese militarism leader and linking cross-strait issues to the First Sino-Japanese War distorts history and aligns with CCP propaganda. Liang warned that her repeated mentions of Japan incite anti-Japanese sentiment and endanger Taiwan.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 19:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 9, 2026 at 20:00 (44 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 18:33 (142h 32m after Collected)
CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping invited Cheng Li-wen to lead a delegation to visit Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing from the 7th to the 12th. On the 8th, Cheng Li-wen visited the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing to pay respects to the Father of the Nation, Sun Yat-sen, and delivered a public speech, mentioning that Sun Yat-sen "founded the first democratic republic in Asia—the Republic of China."
Liang Wen-chieh stated at today's regular press conference of the Mainland Affairs Council that Cheng Li-wen's mention of the Republic of China at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is, in the MAC's view, "the same old trick," "because the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the only 'special protection zone' where the CCP allows the KMT to talk about the Republic of China." He noted that successive KMT chairpersons visiting the mausoleum have implicitly mentioned the Republic of China and its founding year, a practice that has continued since Lien Chan in 2005.
He said that despite all these words, "CCP media will not report it." Chinese mainland media will only show Cheng Li-wen visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, but what she said is irrelevant to the CCP.
Liang Wen-chieh played a clip of CCTV's report on Cheng Li-wen's visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, pointing out that the message conveyed was that the KMT chairperson again visited the mausoleum, and it highlighted segments where Cheng Li-wen praised the mainland's development and progress. He added that Cheng Li-wen's mention of "Republic of China" is "only consumed by Taiwanese themselves."
Liang Wen-chieh pointed out that Cheng Li-wen's speech at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum positioned Sun Yat-sen as a leader against Japanese militarism and framed cross-strait issues as problems inherited from the First Sino-Japanese War, which he found "truly astonishing." He explained that Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary career was closely related to Japan, and "to forcibly portray Mr. Sun Yat-sen as a leader fighting against Japanese militarism and colonialism is a significant distortion of history."
Liang Wen-chieh bluntly stated, "The purpose of doing this is to shape historical views," presenting Taiwan's current situation as a problem left over from Japanese militarism, which perfectly aligns with CCP propaganda. The CCP also interprets Taiwanese people's unwillingness to unify as "Japanization" and a deep-seated pro-Japanese mentality. "If a Taiwanese political party leader caters to this narrative, it basically means siding with the Communist Party."
Liang Wen-chieh believes that Cheng Li-wen mentioned Japan 11 times, and "to treat the entire article as a speech inciting Taiwanese people's hostility towards Japan is a very strange approach." He emphasized that if there is to be exchange, then exchange; if there is to be a visit to the mainland, then visit the mainland, but do not cater to the CCP's narrative, as this would put Taiwan in a dangerous situation.
Liang Wen-chieh also played a video showing that when Cheng Li-wen visited the mausoleum, a person shouted, "Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, take down the DPP in 2028," and was immediately taken away. He said that while this might be a correct statement for the CCP, the point is not whether it is correct, but "you cannot speak." It is precisely this kind of authoritarian rule that the Taiwanese people are unwilling to accept. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150409
Liang Wen-chieh stated at today's regular press conference of the Mainland Affairs Council that Cheng Li-wen's mention of the Republic of China at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is, in the MAC's view, "the same old trick," "because the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is the only 'special protection zone' where the CCP allows the KMT to talk about the Republic of China." He noted that successive KMT chairpersons visiting the mausoleum have implicitly mentioned the Republic of China and its founding year, a practice that has continued since Lien Chan in 2005.
He said that despite all these words, "CCP media will not report it." Chinese mainland media will only show Cheng Li-wen visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, but what she said is irrelevant to the CCP.
Liang Wen-chieh played a clip of CCTV's report on Cheng Li-wen's visit to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, pointing out that the message conveyed was that the KMT chairperson again visited the mausoleum, and it highlighted segments where Cheng Li-wen praised the mainland's development and progress. He added that Cheng Li-wen's mention of "Republic of China" is "only consumed by Taiwanese themselves."
Liang Wen-chieh pointed out that Cheng Li-wen's speech at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum positioned Sun Yat-sen as a leader against Japanese militarism and framed cross-strait issues as problems inherited from the First Sino-Japanese War, which he found "truly astonishing." He explained that Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary career was closely related to Japan, and "to forcibly portray Mr. Sun Yat-sen as a leader fighting against Japanese militarism and colonialism is a significant distortion of history."
Liang Wen-chieh bluntly stated, "The purpose of doing this is to shape historical views," presenting Taiwan's current situation as a problem left over from Japanese militarism, which perfectly aligns with CCP propaganda. The CCP also interprets Taiwanese people's unwillingness to unify as "Japanization" and a deep-seated pro-Japanese mentality. "If a Taiwanese political party leader caters to this narrative, it basically means siding with the Communist Party."
Liang Wen-chieh believes that Cheng Li-wen mentioned Japan 11 times, and "to treat the entire article as a speech inciting Taiwanese people's hostility towards Japan is a very strange approach." He emphasized that if there is to be exchange, then exchange; if there is to be a visit to the mainland, then visit the mainland, but do not cater to the CCP's narrative, as this would put Taiwan in a dangerous situation.
Liang Wen-chieh also played a video showing that when Cheng Li-wen visited the mausoleum, a person shouted, "Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, take down the DPP in 2028," and was immediately taken away. He said that while this might be a correct statement for the CCP, the point is not whether it is correct, but "you cannot speak." It is precisely this kind of authoritarian rule that the Taiwanese people are unwilling to accept. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150409
FAQ
What did MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh say about Cheng Li-wen's remarks on Sun Yat-sen in 2023?
Liang Wen-chieh stated that Cheng Li-wen's portrayal of Sun Yat-sen as an anti-Japanese militarism leader distorts history and aligns with CCP propaganda.
Why did the Mainland Affairs Council criticize Cheng Li-wen's visit to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing?
The MAC criticized Cheng Li-wen for promoting CCP propaganda by linking cross-strait issues to the First Sino-Japanese War during her visit in 2023.
How did Cheng Li-wen's 2023 speech at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum reference Japanese militarism?
Cheng Li-wen claimed Sun Yat-sen opposed Japanese militarism, a narrative the MAC says distorts historical facts and serves CCP political goals.
What historical event did Cheng Li-wen connect to cross-strait relations during her 2023 Nanjing speech?
Cheng Li-wen linked cross-strait issues to the First Sino-Japanese War, a claim criticized by MAC as historically inaccurate and politically motivated.
What warning did Liang Wen-chieh issue regarding Cheng Li-wen's anti-Japanese rhetoric in 2023?
Liang Wen-chieh warned that Cheng Li-wen's repeated anti-Japanese statements incite hostility and endanger Taiwan's security and stability.