US EditionTaiwan opposition party's firebrand new leader pledges peace with China
Cheng Li-wun opposes higher defense spending and pledges to maintain peace with China as KMT faces internal tensions amid rising cross-strait military concerns.
- On Saturday the Kuomintang elected Cheng Li-wun as leader, and she will take over on November 1.
- While the party lost the presidency last year, the Kuomintang and Taiwan People's Party hold most parliamentary seats, complicating the Democratic Progressive Party's efforts amid accusations of Chinese interference raised by Jaw Shau-kong during rising tensions with Beijing.
- Cheng secured the leadership by defeating former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin with slightly more than 50% of the vote, despite turnout under 40% of party members; she said she does not support increasing the defence budget.
- China responded on Wednesday that the election was a KMT matter and that online comments did not represent an official stance, while Taiwan's government strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims.
- Next year, Taiwan's mayoral contests will measure public support ahead of the 2028 presidential vote as the Kuomintang's China-leaning stance remains central.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Cheng Li-wun is in favour of dialogue with Beijing and against higher defense spending. Now she was surprisingly elected head of the largest opposition party.
Taiwan's main opposition party has elected a new reformist leader who is critical of high defense spending but envisions peace with neighboring China, whose claims to sovereignty over the island have long soured relations. Members of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, which has traditionally had warm ties with Beijing, voted on Saturday to elect former lawmaker Cheng Li-wun as its leader. According to foreign media, the 55-year-old Cheng, wh…
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej TodayFirebrand Cheng Li-wun to lead Taiwan’s Opposition KMT, pledges peace with China
TAIPEI, Oct 19 — Taiwan’s main Opposition party, the Kuomintang, elected a firebrand new leader yesterday who opposes increased defence spending but pledged to ensure peace with giant neighbour China.Former lawmaker Cheng Li-wun, who will take over as leader on November 1, won the election at a time of rising military and political tensions with Beijing, which views the democratically-governed island as its own territory. Taiwan’s government str…
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