Cheng Li-wun Elected As New KMT Chair
Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated former legislator Cheng Li-wun on being elected chair of the Kuomintang (KMT) in a race she won with just over 50 percent of the vote. Cheng left the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000 and joined the KMT in 2005, and has served as a legislator and Cabinet spokesperson. In her victory speech, she urged unity, called for better relations with China and said the KMT should act as a peacemaker in the region. She takes the chair on November 1. The DPP said it hopes the KMT will put national security above politics and alleged Beijing interfered in the chair election, which the KMT and Cheng deny.
Cheng Li-wun Elected as KMT Chair, Pledges Stronger China Ties
REPORTER:
The main opposition Kuomintang has officially selected its new leader. Voting and counting for the 2025 KMT chair election is nearing its end. Cheng Li-wun has won with the most votes. Former Legislator Cheng Li-wun won the KMT chair election on Saturday. She took the lead early once polls opened, easily claiming victory with just over 50% of the vote, with former Taipei mayor Hao Longbin taking second place, and KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang in third. Voter turnout was about 40%.
Both Hao and Lo congratulated Cheng on her victory, and called for party unity.
Cheng’s win represents a remarkable political 180. Formerly a member of the ruling DPP, or Democratic Progressive Party, she left in early 2000, joining the KMT in 2005.
While in the KMT she served as a legislator and Cabinet spokesperson. Her election makes her only the second woman ever to lead the party.
Throughout her campaign, Cheng advocated for stronger ties with China. During her victory speech, she laid out what she called the party’s three big principles.
First, we must not let Taiwan become a troublemaker.
Second, we will never let Taiwan fall victim to geopolitics.
Third, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) will take responsibility to be an active peacemaker in the region, which is our most solemn commitment to the international community.
She also set her sights on the DPP, saying it should not use animosity toward China as a political tool.
Cheng Li-wun (KMT CHAIR):
I hope that the DPP will stop sowing hatred and division. (The DPP) must stop stigmatizing China as a way to manipulate elections and worsen political bickering.
This comes at a time when China has been ramping up military aggression around Taiwan to assert its claim of sovereignty over the country.
The DPP released a statement on Cheng’s victory, saying that it hopes the KMT can put Taiwan’s interests above politics, and prioritize national security issues.
The ruling party also alleged Beijing had interfered in the chair race, a charge Cheng rejects.
On Sunday afternoon, the KMT said that Chinese President Xi Jinping himself sent a congratulatory message to Cheng, and the party had issued a reply to Xi. Both sides called for deeper cross-strait exchanges based on upholding the so-called 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.
With Cheng stepping up to Chair the KMT on November 1, many are viewing it as a new beginning for the party.
It’s still too early to say where the party will go from here, and how Cheng’s election will impact Taiwan’s politics. But for many within the KMT and around Taiwan, her election marks a new beginning for the party.
One of Cheng’s opponents in the race, KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang, congratulated her on her win, saying now is the time for the party to unite.
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Cheng Li-wun Becomes Second Woman To Lead KMT, Seeks Better Relations With China
REPORTER:
The main opposition Kuomintang has officially selected its new leader. Voting and counting for the 2025 KMT chair election is nearing its end. Cheng Li-wun has won with the most votes. Former Legislator Cheng Li-wun won the KMT chair election on Saturday. When the polls opened and the vote counting started, she immediately took the lead and ran away with it. During her victory speech she set her sights on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Six people entered the race, each one with different degrees of party experience, but Cheng ultimately prevailed.
One of Cheng’s opponents in the race, KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang congratulated her on her win, saying now is the time for the party to unite.
Cheng’s win marks a remarkable political 180. She was formerly a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. But she left the party in early 2000 and officially joined the KMT in 2005.
While in the KMT she served as a legislator and Cabinet spokesperson. Throughout her KMT chair campaign, she has advocated for stronger ties with China.
The DPP released a statement on Cheng’s victory, saying that it hopes the KMT can put Taiwan’s interests above politics, and prioritize national security issues.
The DPP also said that China had clearly interfered with the KMT chair election, and that Cheng should instead stand up to Beijing, instead of being complicit with the Chinese government.
On Sunday afternoon, the KMT said that Chinese President Xi Jinping himself sent a congratulatory message to Cheng, and the party had issued a reply to Xi.
Both sides called for deeper cross-strait exchanges based on upholding the so-called 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.
With Cheng stepping up to Chair the KMT on November 1, many are viewing it as a new beginning for the party.
