Taiwan’s opposition leader and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman, Cheng Li-wun, embarked on a rare visit to China on Wednesday, describing the trip as an effort to sow “seeds of peace” across the Taiwan Strait. Cheng, the first KMT leader to visit China in a decade, hopes to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping during her visit, which has already sparked debate in Taiwan.

Cheng’s visit comes amid longstanding tensions between Beijing and Taipei. Critics in Taiwan, including within her own party, have accused her of being overly pro-Beijing. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to use force to assert control, while the island maintains its de facto independence.

During a symbolic visit to Nanjing, Cheng toured the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, a figure revered on both sides of the Strait. She emphasized that her visit aims to promote peace, stating, “I hope that today we plant the seeds of peace not only for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait, but for all humankind.” Security was notably tight, with AFP journalists observing restrictions preventing foreign visitors from entering the site.

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Cheng also addressed cross-strait tensions, asserting that the two sides “are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared.” She stressed that Taiwan should not be treated as a “geopolitical pawn,” a likely reference to the island’s strategic role in U.S.-China relations. Her comments highlight a softer diplomatic approach amid rising military pressure from China, which has conducted frequent fighter jet and warship deployments near Taiwan.

The trip reflects KMT efforts to maintain dialogue with Beijing, contrasting with Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has resisted high-level contact since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Since then, cross-strait relations have deteriorated, with China intensifying military drills and regional assertiveness.

Locals in Nanjing expressed interest in Cheng’s visit. Seventy-four-year-old resident Fen told AFP he hoped the trip would contribute to the “reunification of the motherland.” Cheng described her journey as a “historic journey of peace,” signaling her intent to use dialogue and symbolic gestures to ease tensions, even as critics in Taiwan remain wary of her overtures toward Beijing.

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