Birds not missiles should fly in the skies, Taiwan opposition leader says in China
Why it matters: China's continued military activities around Taiwan despite Cheng's visit underscore Beijing's unwavering pressure on the island.
- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT), is in China on a "peace" mission to lessen tensions, according to Reuters.
- Cheng quoted a World War One poem and ancient Norse sailors, stating that "birds not missiles" and "fish not warships" should occupy the skies and waters, as reported by Reuters.
- China has continued its daily military activities around Taiwan, with six aircraft and eight warships detected in the 24 hours prior to Cheng's remarks, despite her presence, Reuters notes.
- Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), through lawmaker Michelle Lin, criticized China's ongoing military threat, stating that Beijing still has "a knife at Taiwan's throat" despite Cheng's visit, per Reuters.
- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's administration has urged Cheng to tell China to cease its threats and engage directly with Taipei's democratically elected government, Reuters reports.
- Crisis Group highlights Cheng's trip as occurring ahead of a potential Trump-Xi summit, adding a layer of international context to the visit.
- DW Asia emphasizes the rarity of Cheng's visit, underscoring its significance in cross-strait relations.
Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun is on a "peace mission" in China, advocating for de-escalation by quoting poetry and ancient wisdom, even as Beijing maintains its daily military presence around Taiwan. Her visit, ahead of a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, is seen by some as a crucial, albeit controversial, attempt to lessen tensions that China's ruling party refuses to discuss with Taiwan's democratically elected government.
