DPP Expresses Regret Over KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen's 'Figurehead Chair' Remark
Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wen stated during a speech in San Francisco that without a meeting with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, she would be nothing more than a 'figurehead party chair.' Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Wu Tseng expressed regret on June 3, criticizing Cheng's remarks as showing a lack of confidence in her party and Taiwan's democracy, and treating China as a backing.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 18:33
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 18:49 (16 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 16:34 (69h 45m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 3) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wen stated during a speech in San Francisco that without a meeting with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, she would be nothing more than a 'figurehead party chair.' Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Wu Tseng expressed regret over Cheng's remarks today, stating that the comments show a lack of confidence in her own party and Taiwan's democracy, and effectively treat China as a backing, underestimating Taiwan's strength and autonomy.
During her visit to the United States, Cheng said in her San Francisco speech that without a 'Cheng-Xi meeting,' she would just be a figurehead KMT chair. She noted that she holds no public office, the KMT is merely an opposition party, and even a visit to the US would change nothing; she might be completely insignificant.
Speaking to the media in the afternoon, Wu Tseng pointed out that the KMT is the largest party in Taiwan's legislature and wields considerable influence in politics, and Cheng's influence is even more significant. 'How could the chairperson of her own party feel that without meeting Xi Jinping, she is just a figurehead chair?' Wu expressed regret that Cheng lacks confidence in her position and her party.
Wu recalled that during the KMT's tenure in power under President Ma Ying-jeou, the party often promoted the narrative that Taiwan needed to rely on China for greater development, as if Taiwan could not exist as an independent entity and had to depend on China to have significance.
He said such a view greatly underestimates Taiwan's strength and lacks confidence in Taiwan. In recent years, everyone has seen that Taiwan does not need to rely on China and can interact with countries around the world independently and confidently, shining on the world stage in business, international diplomacy, sports, and culture.
For the DPP, he said, Taiwan is Taiwan and does not need to be an appendage of China. Especially, democratic parties in Taiwan, regardless of which party, represent a part of Taiwanese public opinion. Therefore, Cheng should have more confidence in her party, her voters, and her own work.
Additionally, regarding the announcement by China's Taiwan Affairs Office that the Straits Forum will be held in Xiamen, Fujian, on the 13th, Wu stated that the DPP will not send representatives and calls on all party members not to cooperate with China's united front work and not to be deceived. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150603
During her visit to the United States, Cheng said in her San Francisco speech that without a 'Cheng-Xi meeting,' she would just be a figurehead KMT chair. She noted that she holds no public office, the KMT is merely an opposition party, and even a visit to the US would change nothing; she might be completely insignificant.
Speaking to the media in the afternoon, Wu Tseng pointed out that the KMT is the largest party in Taiwan's legislature and wields considerable influence in politics, and Cheng's influence is even more significant. 'How could the chairperson of her own party feel that without meeting Xi Jinping, she is just a figurehead chair?' Wu expressed regret that Cheng lacks confidence in her position and her party.
Wu recalled that during the KMT's tenure in power under President Ma Ying-jeou, the party often promoted the narrative that Taiwan needed to rely on China for greater development, as if Taiwan could not exist as an independent entity and had to depend on China to have significance.
He said such a view greatly underestimates Taiwan's strength and lacks confidence in Taiwan. In recent years, everyone has seen that Taiwan does not need to rely on China and can interact with countries around the world independently and confidently, shining on the world stage in business, international diplomacy, sports, and culture.
For the DPP, he said, Taiwan is Taiwan and does not need to be an appendage of China. Especially, democratic parties in Taiwan, regardless of which party, represent a part of Taiwanese public opinion. Therefore, Cheng should have more confidence in her party, her voters, and her own work.
Additionally, regarding the announcement by China's Taiwan Affairs Office that the Straits Forum will be held in Xiamen, Fujian, on the 13th, Wu stated that the DPP will not send representatives and calls on all party members not to cooperate with China's united front work and not to be deceived. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150603