Chiang Wan-an Visits China, Applies for Funds from Democracy Foundation; Lin Chia-lung Calls It Contradictory
KMT Chairperson Chiang Wan-an's visit to China and application for funding from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy has drawn criticism. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung described the move as contradictory, given China's designation of the foundation as a 'Taiwan independence organization,' and emphasized the foundation's role in promoting democracy.
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- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 13:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 14:01 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 10:12 (20h 10m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Yao-ju, Taipei, April 20) KMT Chairperson Chiang Wan-an led a delegation to visit China and applied for funding from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated today that Chinese President Xi Jinping has already sanctioned the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, designating it as a Taiwan independence organization, thus calling the application 'a very contradictory matter,' and that society will comment on whether the 'Chiang-Xi meeting' is to promote democracy and human rights.
KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Yin Nai-ching stated a few days ago that Chiang Wan-an's '2026 Peace Journey' to mainland China was a legal application for funding from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy to engage in party exchanges. The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy stated on the 16th that the KMT's proposal outlines the promotion of Taiwan's free and democratic ideals to China, and the foundation is handling it in accordance with the 'Guidelines for Party Subsidy Programs.'
The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy was established with donations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lin Chia-lung, who also serves as the foundation's Vice Chairman, was interviewed on the radio program 'POP News' this morning, stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocates an annual budget of NT$30 million to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for promoting party diplomacy, a budget approved by the Legislative Yuan. This case is not about whether parties can apply or whether they visit China, but rather that the applied items must be directly related to democracy. Society will comment on whether the 'Chiang-Xi meeting' aims to promote democracy and human rights.
Lin Chia-lung also mentioned that two days before the media reported on this case, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy held a board meeting, which he and Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who also serves as the foundation's chairman, attended. DPP Legislator Fan Yun, a board member, mentioned at the meeting that some previous application items, including exchange forums and ancestor worship cultural activities, did not align with the foundation's founding purpose.
Lin Chia-lung emphasized that the application for funding for Chiang Wan-an's delegation to China has not been formally submitted and has not completed the procedure; there is still room for discussion. The KMT has also seen the societal reaction. He believes everyone has a basic definition of democracy and that it cannot be excessively exceeded, and the foundation's board members are very rational.
Lin Chia-lung said that all three major parties can apply for subsidies from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, as long as the application items align with the foundation's purpose, such as attending inaugurations in the United States, or visiting Japan and Europe, and hosting international forums.
When asked if past KMT chairpersons who made similar trips had ever applied for subsidies from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Lin Chia-lung replied, 'Probably not. Everyone still maintains boundaries and keeps a slight distance.' He added that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is very transparent.
Lin Chia-lung also stated in a post-interview media scrum that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is a cross-party think tank that exchanges and cooperates with democratic countries worldwide and has a history of over 20 years. While it does provide subsidies to political parties, these have specific purposes and must promote democratic development.
Lin Chia-lung stressed that the reason this case is receiving external commentary is that Chinese President Xi Jinping has sanctioned the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, designating it as a Taiwan independence organization, making the application 'a very contradictory matter.' Political parties can engage in party diplomacy to promote democratic development, but it must be related to democracy. As for the case-by-case determination, he respects the foundation's procedural handling. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-jen) April 20, 2026
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KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chairman Yin Nai-ching stated a few days ago that Chiang Wan-an's '2026 Peace Journey' to mainland China was a legal application for funding from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy to engage in party exchanges. The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy stated on the 16th that the KMT's proposal outlines the promotion of Taiwan's free and democratic ideals to China, and the foundation is handling it in accordance with the 'Guidelines for Party Subsidy Programs.'
The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy was established with donations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lin Chia-lung, who also serves as the foundation's Vice Chairman, was interviewed on the radio program 'POP News' this morning, stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocates an annual budget of NT$30 million to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for promoting party diplomacy, a budget approved by the Legislative Yuan. This case is not about whether parties can apply or whether they visit China, but rather that the applied items must be directly related to democracy. Society will comment on whether the 'Chiang-Xi meeting' aims to promote democracy and human rights.
Lin Chia-lung also mentioned that two days before the media reported on this case, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy held a board meeting, which he and Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu, who also serves as the foundation's chairman, attended. DPP Legislator Fan Yun, a board member, mentioned at the meeting that some previous application items, including exchange forums and ancestor worship cultural activities, did not align with the foundation's founding purpose.
Lin Chia-lung emphasized that the application for funding for Chiang Wan-an's delegation to China has not been formally submitted and has not completed the procedure; there is still room for discussion. The KMT has also seen the societal reaction. He believes everyone has a basic definition of democracy and that it cannot be excessively exceeded, and the foundation's board members are very rational.
Lin Chia-lung said that all three major parties can apply for subsidies from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, as long as the application items align with the foundation's purpose, such as attending inaugurations in the United States, or visiting Japan and Europe, and hosting international forums.
When asked if past KMT chairpersons who made similar trips had ever applied for subsidies from the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Lin Chia-lung replied, 'Probably not. Everyone still maintains boundaries and keeps a slight distance.' He added that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is very transparent.
Lin Chia-lung also stated in a post-interview media scrum that the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is a cross-party think tank that exchanges and cooperates with democratic countries worldwide and has a history of over 20 years. While it does provide subsidies to political parties, these have specific purposes and must promote democratic development.
Lin Chia-lung stressed that the reason this case is receiving external commentary is that Chinese President Xi Jinping has sanctioned the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, designating it as a Taiwan independence organization, making the application 'a very contradictory matter.' Political parties can engage in party diplomacy to promote democratic development, but it must be related to democracy. As for the case-by-case determination, he respects the foundation's procedural handling. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-jen) April 20, 2026
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's 'First-Hand News' APP for real-time updates.
Reproduction, public broadcast, or public transmission and use of the text, images, and videos on this website are prohibited without authorization.