It's evident that Zheng Liwen was visibly moved during her speech at the Great Hall of the People, yet she maintained a balance between passion and prudence. Zheng made two particularly insightful remarks: first, that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a shared revival for both sides of the strait, as well as a renewed awakening of the spirit of Chinese civilization; second, that cross-strait relations should further plan and establish institutionalized and sustainable mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation, so that peaceful development becomes irreversible and conflicts are fundamentally eliminated.
These words reflect the essential spirit that all Chinese people on both sides of the strait should uphold—shouldering the responsibility to rejuvenate China. The second remark outlines a vision for the future of cross-strait relations. Why did Zheng emphasize “establishing institutionalized and sustainable mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation”? Fundamentally, it’s because exchanges across the strait have, at times, been interrupted and lacked institutionalization. In fact, Zheng’s visit marks the first time in ten years that a Kuomintang (KMT) chairman has come to the mainland.
The two sides of the strait are originally one family, yet the KMT chairman visits only once every ten years—far too infrequent. Ultimately, this reflects the KMT’s own vacillation: striving to uphold the “1992 Consensus” as its political foundation while frequently being swayed by local “Taiwan independence” forces and electoral calculations, resulting in inconsistent policies and shifting positions. This has caused the KMT to lose its reputation for stable communication with the mainland. As a result, the path toward peaceful cross-strait development often faces disruptions.
By specifically highlighting this point, Zheng is clearly correcting the KMT’s direction—rejecting the “pro-American, pro-Japanese, and pro-China” approach. It also indicates Zheng’s strong intention to reorient the party, decisively abandoning ambiguous, opportunistic tactics. She aims to firmly anchor the party in the 1992 Consensus and opposition to “Taiwan independence,” making these principles unshakeable foundations for normalizing and advancing cross-strait relations. Clearly, Zheng has surpassed Chu Li-lun, taking a significant step forward—this is precisely what sets Zheng apart.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862068741721418/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.