TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun's (鄭麗文) engagements with overseas Taiwanese in the US have drawn criticism from DPP politicians and scrutiny over the party's funding for her trips.
Mirror Media reported that China Garden Han Gong, the venue selected for a June 11 banquet with overseas Taiwanese in Maryland, has frequently hosted Chinese officials and pro-unification organizations. An overseas Taiwanese source told the publication that, despite the availability of other venues, the KMT chose one with what the source described as "deep pro-unification connections."
The KMT rejected that characterization, arguing that China Garden Han Gong was the most suitable venue for an event of that size, per Tai Sounds. The party also noted that Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) attended an event hosted by the ROC Veterans Association at the same venue on May 25.
Former KMT Legislator Chen I-hsin (陳以信) also defended the choice, noting that a banquet for overseas Taiwanese held during former KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih's (侯友宜) 2024 campaign took place at the same venue, per NOWNews. He added that AIT Chair Laura Rosenberger attended that event.
Cheng's banquet with overseas Taiwanese in Los Angeles also attracted controversy. She reportedly said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was the only person with goodwill toward Taiwan, per Liberty Times. Cheng also boasted about trending on Chinese search engines.
DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) criticized Cheng's remarks, saying she was repeating CCP talking points, per Liberty Times. He alleged that the KMT, at every level, had become part of the CCP's periphery.
Separately, the KMT on Friday defended its applications to the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy for funding for Cheng's trips to the US and China, per Tai Sounds.
The party applied for NT$4.8 million (US$152,448) to support Cheng's 14-day visit to the US and submitted receipts related to her China trip on May 28.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) defended the applications, arguing that individuals affiliated with the DPP had also received funding from the foundation for visits to China, per UDN. KMT lawmaker Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) said there should be no issue with seeking foundation support for the party's trip to the US.
