DistantNews
Support us
🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwan opposition chairwoman calls for strong cross-strait ties in US, draws fire from ruling party

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Kuomintang Chairwoman Cecilia Koo called for closer ties between Taiwan and mainland China during a visit to the United States.
  • Koo criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for its China policies, which she claims push Taiwan toward conflict.
  • The DPP countered that Koo's remarks spread illusions about China and do not bring peace to Taiwan.

Kuomintang Chairwoman Cecilia Koo urged closer cross-strait cooperation during a visit to the United States, criticizing the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) governance over the past decade. Speaking to overseas Chinese in Boston on June 5, Koo accused the DPP of attempting "de-Sinicization" and pushing Taiwan toward a dangerous situation. She asserted that the KMT would achieve a political rotation in 2028 and that "strong-strong cooperation" between Taiwan and China could lead to unimaginable achievements.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should cooperate strongly.

— Cecilia KooDuring a speech to overseas Chinese in Boston.

Koo also shared her reflections from a visit to mainland China in April. She recalled speaking at Yangshan Port, saying, "What should fly in the sky are birds, not missiles; what should swim in the sea are fish, not warships." She claimed this sentiment deeply moved many Chinese citizens and became a trending topic online for several days.

What should fly in the sky are birds, not missiles; what should swim in the sea are fish, not warships.

— Cecilia KooRecounting a speech given during her visit to mainland China.

In response, the DPP on June 6 stated that Koo's trip to the U.S. would only transmit incorrect messages to overseas Chinese and American contacts. The party pointed out that despite Koo's claims of "strong-strong cooperation," China has continued to provoke Taiwan with military incursions and live-fire exercises in the Yellow Sea. The DPP questioned whether this aligns with Koo's "birds in the sky, fish in the sea" analogy, suggesting her rhetoric does not bring peace to Taiwan and that she harbors illusions about China.

Cecilia Koo's trip to the U.S. will only transmit incorrect messages to overseas Chinese and American contacts.

— Democratic Progressive PartyResponding to Koo's remarks.

The DPP emphasized its belief that Taiwanese citizens at home and abroad, along with international allies, possess the wisdom to discern truth from falsehood and see through deceptive narratives.

This is what Cecilia Koo calls 'birds flying in the sky and fish swimming in the sea'?

— Democratic Progressive PartyQuestioning Koo's analogy in light of Chinese military actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog