Cheng Li-wun Shares Thoughts on China Visit: Workers Face Challenges in the Automation Era
KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun shared her observations from visiting Xiaomi's highly automated car factory in China, warning that Taiwanese workers must quickly undergo comprehensive transition as the AI era arrives.
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- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 14:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 14:31 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 03:39 (61h 7m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Chao Li-yen, Taichung, 16th) Kuomintang (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun today shared her thoughts on her recent visit to China, where she toured the Xiaomi car factory. She stated that with factories being fully automated and the arrival of a new era, Taiwanese workers will face challenges in the future and must find answers and comprehensively transition in the shortest possible time.
Cheng Li-wun attended the Model Worker Commendation Ceremony hosted by the Taiwan Federation of Labor Unions in Qingshui District, Taichung City today. In her speech, she mentioned Taiwan's severe issues of an aging population and declining birthrate, noting that the system must guarantee the retirement rights of workers. With the advent of artificial intelligence, the workforce should not be entirely replaced by AI, but rather AI should be used to help workers complete the most dangerous and arduous tasks.
Cheng Li-wun stated that during her recent visit to China, she toured the Xiaomi car factory. The Xiaomi car division has a total of 50,000 employees, with 25,000 dedicated to R&D, but the factory itself has fewer than 100 workers. Visiting a factory in Yangshan Port, she saw it was fully automated. As a new era arrives, there are so-called "dark factories" or "lights-out factories" because without people, there is no need to turn on the lights.
She noted that Taiwan's economic achievements over the past few years have largely been sustained by high-tech industries. Traditional manufacturing and service industries will face severe bottlenecks in the future. Past "hidden champions" and manufacturing sectors that were the pride of Taiwan must find new competitiveness in this new era to ensure that traditional manufacturing and service sectors can continue providing 80% of labor employment opportunities.
Cheng Li-wun mentioned that regarding how to continue safeguarding these employment opportunities so everyone can find their ideal job, Taiwanese workers face various challenges and must find answers and undergo a comprehensive transition immediately.
When asked by the media about suspicions regarding her application for funds from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for her 2026 "Peace Journey" to mainland China—raising doubts about the use of taxpayers' money, pro-Taiwan policies, and tracking devices placed on Lee Chien-lung's vehicle—Cheng Li-wun did not reply directly, simply saying "Thank you."
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Ho Hsin-chun told the media that the funds of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy come from government support and taxpayers' money. The expenditure and review of the foundation's budget are not only bound by law but should also have transparent and open mechanisms so the public is informed. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150416
(CNA reporter Chao Li-yen, Taichung, 16th) Kuomintang (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun today shared her thoughts on her recent visit to China, where she toured the Xiaomi car factory. She stated that with factories being fully automated and the arrival of a new era, Taiwanese workers will face challenges in the future and must find answers and comprehensively transition in the shortest possible time.
Cheng Li-wun attended the Model Worker Commendation Ceremony hosted by the Taiwan Federation of Labor Unions in Qingshui District, Taichung City today. In her speech, she mentioned Taiwan's severe issues of an aging population and declining birthrate, noting that the system must guarantee the retirement rights of workers. With the advent of artificial intelligence, the workforce should not be entirely replaced by AI, but rather AI should be used to help workers complete the most dangerous and arduous tasks.
Cheng Li-wun stated that during her recent visit to China, she toured the Xiaomi car factory. The Xiaomi car division has a total of 50,000 employees, with 25,000 dedicated to R&D, but the factory itself has fewer than 100 workers. Visiting a factory in Yangshan Port, she saw it was fully automated. As a new era arrives, there are so-called "dark factories" or "lights-out factories" because without people, there is no need to turn on the lights.
She noted that Taiwan's economic achievements over the past few years have largely been sustained by high-tech industries. Traditional manufacturing and service industries will face severe bottlenecks in the future. Past "hidden champions" and manufacturing sectors that were the pride of Taiwan must find new competitiveness in this new era to ensure that traditional manufacturing and service sectors can continue providing 80% of labor employment opportunities.
Cheng Li-wun mentioned that regarding how to continue safeguarding these employment opportunities so everyone can find their ideal job, Taiwanese workers face various challenges and must find answers and undergo a comprehensive transition immediately.
When asked by the media about suspicions regarding her application for funds from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for her 2026 "Peace Journey" to mainland China—raising doubts about the use of taxpayers' money, pro-Taiwan policies, and tracking devices placed on Lee Chien-lung's vehicle—Cheng Li-wun did not reply directly, simply saying "Thank you."
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Ho Hsin-chun told the media that the funds of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy come from government support and taxpayers' money. The expenditure and review of the foundation's budget are not only bound by law but should also have transparent and open mechanisms so the public is informed. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150416