President Lai Accuses Cheng Li-wun of Abandoning Taiwan's Sovereignty; KMT Decries 'Political Slander'
On May 20, President Lai Ching-te stated that KMT figure Cheng Li-wun's 'two-legged national security' theory constitutes an abandonment of Taiwan's sovereignty. The KMT quickly responded, accusing President Lai of malicious distortion and political slander, and of shifting the blame for increased cross-strait risks onto the opposition party. The exchange highlights the deep-seated divisions between the ruling and opposition parties on national security, the '1992 Consensus,' and definitions of sovereignty.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 13:49
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 14:01 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 14:27 (26 min after Collected)
President Lai Ching-te stated today that the 'two-legged national security theory' by KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is an abandonment of Taiwan's sovereignty, with its legs being cut off by China. The Kuomintang (KMT) stated today that President Lai's malicious distortion of Cheng Li-wun's proposal is complete political slander and a conceptual switch. The KMT accused President Lai of being unable to face his own responsibility for increasing risks in the Taiwan Strait and instead shifting the blame to the opposition party that advocates for peace.
In his 2nd-anniversary-of-governance speech at the Presidential Office this morning, President Lai addressed Cheng Li-wun's two-legged theory on national security, stating that it cannot provide a stable foundation. Furthermore, Lai said that Cheng leading the charge to block arms purchases is equivalent to cutting off one's own leg, and by accepting the 1992 Consensus, she allows China to cut off the other leg, which is extremely dangerous for Taiwan.
The KMT's Culture and Communications Committee issued a press release pointing out that President Lai's malicious distortion of Cheng Li-wun's proposal is complete political slander and a conceptual switch. It also proves once again that when President Lai cannot create peace, he smears peace as 'red'; when he cannot restore dialogue, he smears dialogue; and when he cannot face his own responsibility for increasing risks in the Taiwan Strait, he shifts the blame to the opposition party that advocates for peace.
The KMT stated that Cheng Li-wun's proposal for 'two legs of national security' is very clear: one leg is a sufficient and strong self-defense force; the other is to seek cross-strait peace and expand dialogue and exchange. Using 'unrelenting effort and determination to seek cross-strait peace' to do the utmost to eliminate the possibility of war and military conflict is the pragmatic, complete, and responsible security strategy.
The KMT pointed out that President Lai, however, refuses to face the needs of the people, refuses to restore normal exchanges, and would rather let the tourism industry continue to wait in vain and let cross-strait goodwill idle. He also smears the opposition's peace efforts as united front tactics and portrays the public's expectation for exchange as dangerous. This is not protecting Taiwan; it is sacrificing the safety and livelihood of the Taiwanese people for the political interests of the Democratic Progressive Party.
In addition, President Lai also pointed out today that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China. 'This is an ironclad fact.' He added that the 1992 Consensus cannot solve cross-strait issues, let alone achieve the goals demanded by the Taiwanese people.
The KMT responded that the Republic of China Constitution is the nation's and the people's most solid 'protective shield.' Based on the Constitution, on the level of international relations, the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country. On the level of cross-strait relations, the governments on both sides 'do not recognize each other's sovereignty, but do not deny each other's governing authority.' Cross-strait relations are not 'state-to-state' relations.
The KMT pointed out that the 1992 Consensus, under the framework of the Republic of China Constitution, is the stabilizing force that allows for dialogue, reduces hostility, and avoids war across the strait. President Lai's distortion of the 1992 Consensus is a long-standing political trick of the DPP. The one who truly abandons the sovereignty of the Republic of China is President Lai, who swore an oath under the ROC Constitution but dodges its positioning in cross-strait policy at every turn.
KMT Legislative Yuan Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang said that regarding President Lai's inauguration anniversary speech, much of the content has been said before and is just being replayed with new packaging. What the people truly care about is what to do about power shortages, how to lower prices, how to solve low youth wages, and how to save the declining birthrate.
Lin Pei-hsiang pointed out that what the country needs is pragmatic governance, not ideological idling. What the people expect is a united Taiwan and improved livelihoods, not flip-flopping between slogans and political lines every day.
In his 2nd-anniversary-of-governance speech at the Presidential Office this morning, President Lai addressed Cheng Li-wun's two-legged theory on national security, stating that it cannot provide a stable foundation. Furthermore, Lai said that Cheng leading the charge to block arms purchases is equivalent to cutting off one's own leg, and by accepting the 1992 Consensus, she allows China to cut off the other leg, which is extremely dangerous for Taiwan.
The KMT's Culture and Communications Committee issued a press release pointing out that President Lai's malicious distortion of Cheng Li-wun's proposal is complete political slander and a conceptual switch. It also proves once again that when President Lai cannot create peace, he smears peace as 'red'; when he cannot restore dialogue, he smears dialogue; and when he cannot face his own responsibility for increasing risks in the Taiwan Strait, he shifts the blame to the opposition party that advocates for peace.
The KMT stated that Cheng Li-wun's proposal for 'two legs of national security' is very clear: one leg is a sufficient and strong self-defense force; the other is to seek cross-strait peace and expand dialogue and exchange. Using 'unrelenting effort and determination to seek cross-strait peace' to do the utmost to eliminate the possibility of war and military conflict is the pragmatic, complete, and responsible security strategy.
The KMT pointed out that President Lai, however, refuses to face the needs of the people, refuses to restore normal exchanges, and would rather let the tourism industry continue to wait in vain and let cross-strait goodwill idle. He also smears the opposition's peace efforts as united front tactics and portrays the public's expectation for exchange as dangerous. This is not protecting Taiwan; it is sacrificing the safety and livelihood of the Taiwanese people for the political interests of the Democratic Progressive Party.
In addition, President Lai also pointed out today that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other, and Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China. 'This is an ironclad fact.' He added that the 1992 Consensus cannot solve cross-strait issues, let alone achieve the goals demanded by the Taiwanese people.
The KMT responded that the Republic of China Constitution is the nation's and the people's most solid 'protective shield.' Based on the Constitution, on the level of international relations, the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent country. On the level of cross-strait relations, the governments on both sides 'do not recognize each other's sovereignty, but do not deny each other's governing authority.' Cross-strait relations are not 'state-to-state' relations.
The KMT pointed out that the 1992 Consensus, under the framework of the Republic of China Constitution, is the stabilizing force that allows for dialogue, reduces hostility, and avoids war across the strait. President Lai's distortion of the 1992 Consensus is a long-standing political trick of the DPP. The one who truly abandons the sovereignty of the Republic of China is President Lai, who swore an oath under the ROC Constitution but dodges its positioning in cross-strait policy at every turn.
KMT Legislative Yuan Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang said that regarding President Lai's inauguration anniversary speech, much of the content has been said before and is just being replayed with new packaging. What the people truly care about is what to do about power shortages, how to lower prices, how to solve low youth wages, and how to save the declining birthrate.
Lin Pei-hsiang pointed out that what the country needs is pragmatic governance, not ideological idling. What the people expect is a united Taiwan and improved livelihoods, not flip-flopping between slogans and political lines every day.