Cheng Li-wen's trips to US and China cost taxpayers nearly NT$10 million in two months

Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen's recent international travel has ignited controversy over the use of public funds. Following a trip to China in April, Cheng embarked on a 15-day visit to the United States earlier this month, with her party applying for substantial subsidies from the Prospect Foundation for both excursions.

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The word pressure is not in our mind. When you follow one dream, you're never under pressure. You are with a big ambition, big excitement, because we achieved one thing that never happened in the history of Qatar, was to stay here.

Political commentator Chou Hsuan pointed out that Cheng's travels over the past two months have cost taxpayers nearly NT$10 million. The KMT chairwoman's April visit to China had already generated significant debate regarding the foundation's funding. Now, the party has sought NT$5.5 million from the foundation for the U.S. trip.

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I think that it's (Qatar) one little country, but with a big passion, a big investment about the facilities, about how we have to improve every day.

When questioned by the media about the U.S. trip's funding, Cheng stated she did not have exact figures but confirmed the Prospect Foundation was the primary source of funding, supplemented by party support. She clarified that no donations were solicited from overseas Chinese communities during this visit.

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Now we are not thinking about what we did against Switzerland, what was the past. Now we are only focused on being able to face one strong team.

Chou Hsuan detailed on Facebook that Cheng's April delegation to China received NT$4.8 million in subsidies from the foundation, with NT$3.02 million already accounted for by the KMT. Combined with the U.S. trip's expenses, Chou asserted that Cheng has spent nearly NT$10 million of taxpayer money in just two months. Online commenters have questioned whether the Prospect Foundation serves as the KMT's treasury and criticized the use of foundation funds for political advocacy abroad.

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Maybe we didn't have the experience, but now we are here. We have the experience. We are ready.