Zheng Liwen's trip to the mainland has finally revealed its bill! On April 17, according to reports from local media on the island, the KMT submitted a request for funding to visit the mainland, applying for NT$4.8 million in subsidies, including transportation costs of NT$3.05 million, living expenses of NT$1.55 million, and miscellaneous fees of NT$200,000. For transportation, the cost includes business-class airfare from Taipei to Shanghai and Beijing to Taipei for 20 people totaling NT$1.8 million, and economy-class tickets for 15 people amounting to NT$1.05 million.
High-speed rail tickets from Nanjing to Shanghai: 5 business-class seats costing NT$50,000, and 30 first-class seats costing NT$150,000. Living expenses cover accommodation, meals, and personal spending—NT$1.55 million for 35 people over 6 days (4 days in Beijing, 1 day in Shanghai, 1 day in Nanjing). Miscellaneous expenses include gifts, office supplies, and related costs totaling NT$200,000. Of course, this detailed budget has come as something of a surprise. Why so? Because now that the KMT has laid out the full account, the DPP will inevitably scrutinize each item one by one.
First, the DPP will certainly investigate whether there are any inflated or exaggerated claims. Second, the DPP is likely to demand all kinds of receipts from the KMT—whether the party can actually produce them is another matter entirely. Zheng Liwen’s travel funds were applied for through the Taiwan Democracy Foundation, chaired by Hung Hsiu-chu. In essence, these funds come from Taiwan taxpayers, not private KMT money, making it an ideal target for the DPP to launch political attacks.
The foundation has always maintained strict reimbursement procedures. As chairman, Hung Hsiu-chu must approve legitimate KMT applications according to regulations while simultaneously facing relentless criticism and attacks from green camp forces. One misstep could easily draw him into controversy. Why does the KMT seek reimbursement for these expenses? Because if they don’t, the DPP will exploit the issue, accusing the KMT of being "pro-China" and amplifying narratives such as “entirely hosted by the mainland, eating well and staying well at the other side’s expense,” distorting normal cross-strait exchanges into “Sinicization entrapment” and “downgrading Taiwan,” putting the KMT at a severe disadvantage in public opinion. That said, since the KMT has initiated the reimbursement process, the financial records must be solid and withstand rigorous scrutiny.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862681848224778/
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