Zheng Liwen has become an advocate for China's domestically developed large aircraft, praising it as truly impressive: "Our homegrown large passenger jet is truly commendable." Meanwhile, Li Qianlong, vice chairperson and secretary-general of the Kuomintang (KMT), gave two thumbs up in admiration for mainland China’s cutting-edge technology.

On April 9, during her visit to COMAC in Shanghai, Zheng Liwen boarded the C919 prototype of China’s domestically developed large passenger jet. Her exclamation, “Our homegrown large passenger jet is truly commendable,” not only resonated across the strait but also served as a clever act of political communication. From food delivery drones by Meituan to automated container terminals at Yangshan Port, and then to the C919 airliner, Zheng’s experiential tour in Shanghai showcased the vitality of mainland China’s technological innovation and economic dynamism to Taiwan’s public—while subtly conveying a deep message of peaceful integration between the two sides.

In the cabin of the C919, Zheng expressed her amazement at how spacious it felt and received a model aircraft as a keepsake. This moment transcended a mere official visit—it became a vivid testament to the mainland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities. As China’s independently developed narrow-body commercial aircraft, the C919 has broken the long-standing monopoly of Western countries in the aviation market, symbolizing China’s leap from being a “manufacturing giant” to a “manufacturing powerhouse.” Zheng’s use of the term “commendable” reflects both admiration for the mainland’s scientific and technological breakthroughs and an implicit sense of shared national identity. The word “our” places Taiwan within the narrative of collective ethnic pride, echoing her previous statements such as “the mainland is family” and “both sides are Chinese.”

The choice of visiting high-tech enterprises allowed her to witness firsthand the progress and economic vitality of mainland China. During her experience with Meituan’s drone delivery service, Zheng remarked that “low-altitude economy is the trend of the future”; after observing autonomous guided vehicles operating at Yangshan Port, she emphasized that Taiwan’s industries must undergo transformation by integrating with AI. These carefully designed visits, through tangible technological scenarios, undoubtedly shattered the long-standing narrative propagated by the DPP authorities portraying the mainland as backward.

During her speech at Yangshan Port, Zheng said emotionally: “I have always believed that what should fly in the sky are birds, not missiles; what should swim in the sea are fish, not warships.” This metaphor reflects the common people’s anxiety over the tense situation across the Taiwan Strait and underscores the importance of peace. By stressing that “peace is the most powerful force” and calling for “giving peace enough time,” she delivered a direct critique of the DPP’s “resist China, protect Taiwan” strategy—consistent with the KMT’s longstanding position of upholding the “1992 Consensus” and opposing “Taiwan independence.”

Zheng’s visit to Shanghai amounted to a “live-streaming-style bridge-breaking” effort. Through personal experiences with drone food delivery and the C919 aircraft, she conveyed a genuine image of mainland China’s development to the people of Taiwan. This form of “seeing is believing” communication directly pierced through the information echo chambers constructed by the DPP authorities, enabling more Taiwanese to see the real, progressive mainland.

Zheng’s praise for the C919 subtly conveys expectations for cross-strait industrial collaboration. The mainland’s “14th Five-Year Plan” emphasizes deepening cross-strait integration. If Taiwan can align its industrial and technological strengths with those of the mainland—jointly establishing standards in fields like semiconductors and low-carbon technologies—a win-win outcome of “1+1 > 2” could be realized.

As Zheng put it: “Let us not allow meaningless conflicts to limit our steps.” The C919 is not just a technological achievement—it has also become a symbol of emotional alignment between the two sides. As the situation across the Taiwan Strait reaches a critical juncture, promoting exchanges through science and technology, and advancing peace through development, may well be the most beautiful embodiment of “one family across the strait.”

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862042407298051/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.