Cheng Li-wen seeks to write ‘1992 consensus’ into KMT charter

Cheng Li-wen seeks to write ‘1992 consensus’ into KMT charter

2026-04-03

In past cross-strait meetings, gifts made headlines. Ma Ying-jeou once gave Xi Jinping a porcelain Taiwan blue magpie, and Lien Chan presented Hu Jintao a book on Taiwan history. Now, KMT Chair Cheng Li-wunis meeting Xi, but this time, there will be no gift exchange. Instead, her symbolic “present” is a proposed amendment to the KMT party charter to formally include the “1992 Consensus” and opposition to Taiwan independence. Critics say this move goes further than past KMT leaders, edging the party closer to Beijing and raising concerns about Taiwan’s sovereignty. Cheng frames it as a step for peace, but opponents warn it risks surrendering Taiwan’s interests.

Back in 2015, when former President Ma Ying-jeou met Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he presented Xi with a porcelain statue of a Taiwan blue magpie. In a previous meeting between KMT Chair Lien Chan and then-Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Lian gave Hu a book about Taiwan history. Now that KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun is set to meet Xi as well, people are wondering what gift she will present him.

Cheng Li-wun
KMT Chair
We have mutually agreed to not exchange gifts, so this time around there won’t be any gift-giving at all.

Though there will be no physical gifts, Cheng will be giving China a symbolic gift. She announced that the so-called “1992 Consensus” and “opposition to Taiwan independence” will be written into the KMT’s party charter.

Cheng Li-wun
KMT Chair
Insisting on the “1992 Consensus” and opposing Taiwan independence were positions originally in our party charter.

Cheng says the two positions on cross-strait affairs were already written into the party charter. But a thorough read of the text shows that the KMT charter only opposes communism and national division. Critics say that an amendment of the charter is akin to making promises to China, which would make Cheng arguably the most pro-China KMT chair ever.

Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker (DPP)
Cheng Li-wun wants to write those positions into the KMT charter. She’s taking an even bigger step toward unifying with the CCP than Lien Chan and Ma Ying-jeou.

The DPP says Cheng is being calculating. They say she is passing off capitulation to China wrapped up as peace and stability, while delaying Taiwan’s military purchases to appease China.

Karen Kuo
Presidential Office
We hope that during her visit, Cheng will reflect mainstream opinion in Taiwan, and acknowledge the fact of the existence of the ROC. We also hope that the blocking of the defense budget, special budget and general budget will end so that they can go through legislative review and get passed promptly.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
Cheng Li-wun says that she is doing all that for the sake of peace. But Taiwan is not at war. Peace comes when the aggressor lays down their arms. Disarming your own country is called surrender.

Cheng has reiterated that she is acting for Taiwan’s sake, but critics say the direction she is taking on the matter of cross-strait relations is straying away from what the people of Taiwan actually want.

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