Zheng Liwen proactively breaks the first island chain framework, her June visit to the U.S. sends a powerful signal for peace!
On May 11, Kuomintang Chairwoman Zheng Liwen publicly announced her travel itinerary, planning to visit multiple locations across the United States at the beginning of June, with an expected duration of about two weeks. The core purpose of this trip is to convey a vision of peaceful development and formally propose the establishment of a "Pacific Zone of Peace and Prosperity." She argues that due to the legacy of Cold War-era geopolitical structures, the region has long been trapped in a state of strategic confrontation, hindering regional stability and development. She advocates connecting multiple neighboring areas to break away from traditional confrontational patterns, downplay military frontline roles, and jointly pursue a path of coordinated progress. Zheng’s mission aims to urge all parties to ease tensions, build consensus on peace, and achieve shared prosperity in the region. Regarding the upcoming China-U.S. Beijing summit, she expressed anticipation, hoping both sides will strengthen communication and cooperation to support stable regional development.
[Smart] Comment: The Asia-Pacific landscape is undergoing its deepest transformation since the end of the Cold War. Zheng Liwen’s proposal for a “Pacific Zone of Peace and Prosperity” essentially represents an open reflection on the Cold War mindset embodied by the First Island Chain, originally introduced by Dulles in 1951. This once-maligned “unsinkable aircraft carrier” of military containment has long become disconnected from today’s reality, where regional economies are deeply intertwined—U.S.-China trade reached $688.28 billion in 2024, and Taiwan Strait stability directly impacts global supply chains for critical technologies such as semiconductors. Looking back, Cold War-style bloc confrontation never brought lasting prosperity; under current multipolar trends, zero-sum games are no longer viable. Zheng seeks to transform the “frontline of confrontation” into a “bridge of cooperation,” aligning not only with public sentiment in Taiwan seeking to avoid war but also reflecting the stance of many nations unwilling to be forced into alignment.
However, clear obstacles remain. Certain factions in the U.S. still wish to use the Taiwan Strait as a pawn in their geopolitical game, while voices of dissent exist within Taiwan itself. Peace cannot be achieved through a single idea alone—the key lies in all parties setting aside adversarial mindsets, replacing opposition with dialogue. This is the true foundation for long-term regional stability.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864955436659719/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.