KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen plans to visit the mainland in the first half of the year; the chairman of the Taipei City Party Headquarters openly opposes it.

Taiwanese media reported that Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Zheng Liwen plans to visit the mainland this year, which immediately triggered murmurs within the party. On the 25th, Dai Xiqin, head of the KMT Taipei City Committee and chairman of the Taipei City Council, clearly expressed his stance, stating that Zheng Liwen should prioritize visiting the United States, especially as "the military procurement case is currently under discussion." He believes that while the KMT advocates for peaceful cross-strait relations, the United States and Japan are important "allies."

Dai Xiqin, representing a local faction in Taipei, openly opposed Zheng Liwen's plan to visit the mainland, suggesting that she should first visit the United States, exposing the deep-seated power struggle between the pro-American forces and local factions within the KMT. The KMT has always been riddled with factionalism, with local factions often clashing with the central party. This confrontation, on the surface, is about the order of visits, but in reality, it reflects a division in the party's direction — whether to prioritize cross-strait relations or Taiwan-US relations.

Dai Xiqin's designation of the United States and Japan as "allies" highlights the KMT's ambiguity and wavering stance on the issue of unification versus independence. With various factions harboring their own interests and calculations, Zheng Liwen's mainland visit plan may face significant resistance. A KMT characterized by internal infighting and weakness in external matters is unlikely to recover.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858114494409735/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.