Cheng Li-wun

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Cheng Li-wun
鄭麗文
Official portrait, 2020
12th Chair of the Kuomintang
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 1, 2025
Vice ChairmanLee Chien-lung
Chi Lin-lien
Preceded byEric Chu
2nd Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan
In office
October 23, 2012 – February 17, 2014
Prime MinisterSean Chen
Jiang Yi-huah
Preceded byHuang Min-kung (acting)
Succeeded bySun Lih-chyun
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
February 1, 2020 – February 1, 2024
ConstituencyParty-list
In office
February 1, 2008 – January 31, 2012
ConstituencyParty-list
Member of the National Assembly
Mission based
May 30, 2005 – June 7, 2005
ConstituencyNationwide and Oversea
In office
May 20, 1996 – May 19, 2000
ConstituencyTaipei 1st
Personal details
BornNovember 12, 1969 (age 55)
Kouhu, Yunlin, Taiwan
Political partyDPP (1988–2002)
Independent (2002–2005)
KMT (since 2005)
EducationNational Taiwan University (LLB)
Temple University (LLM)
University of Cambridge (MSc)

Cheng Li-wun (Chinese: 鄭麗文; born November 12, 1969) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. A member of the Kuomintang (KMT), she has been the party's chairperson since November 2025.

Chen sat in the National Assembly and Legislative Yuan for several terms, first as a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (until 2000) and then as a member of the Kuomintang (after 2005).

Early life and education

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Cheng was born in Kouhu, Yunlin, on November 12, 1969, to a middle-class family whose ancestral home is in Yunnan.[1] She was raised in East District, Tainan,[2] and grew up in a military dependents' village.[3] Her father, a Yi soldier in the Chinese Expeditionary Force, was from Pu'er City, and her mother was born in Kouhu.[4]

After graduating from Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School,[5] Cheng attended law school at National Taiwan University (NTU), where she became the president of the university's debate society (台大論壇社), participated in the Wild Lily student movement, and received her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. As a Wild Lily student activist, she campaigned for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and advocated for Taiwanese independence.[6]

She then studied law in the United States at Temple University and earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in international law from its Beasley School of Law.[7] She completed further graduate studies in England, earning a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in international relations from the University of Cambridge,[8] where she was also a doctoral Ph.D. candidate in international relations.[7] As a graduate student at Cambridge, Cheng studied under Dutch sinologist Hans van de Ven and intended to begin an academic career as a historian.[9]

Career

[edit]

After graduating from law school, Cheng became a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), serving in the National Assembly as a representative from Taipei from 1996 to 2000 and in the party's youth organization afterwards. She was suspended and resigned from the party in 2002[10] in the wake of Diane Lee's accusations that Twu Shiing-jer had sexually harassed ("ear-licked") a male restaurateur.[11]

Cheng left the Legislative Yuan following her departure from the DPP, but rumors that she now was aligned with the Pan-Blue Coalition were confirmed by her appearance at a March 2004 Kuomintang rally protesting the 2004 presidential election. Following her failed campaign to be elected as an independent candidate for Kaohsiung, she officially joined the Kuomintang (KMT) in 2005. She was quickly promoted within the party, and was elected as a party-list member of the Legislative Yuan in 2008. She was not reelected upon her run for a Taichung seat 2012, losing to Ho Hsin-chun. After her defeat, she served as Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan for two years, being replaced by Sun Lih-chyun.[12] From her departure from the Executive Yuan to September 2015, she hosted a talk show on TVBS. She served as deputy secretary-general of the KMT between August and November 2018. She returned to the Legislative Yuan in 2020 and served as secretary-general of the KMT caucus in the Yuan in 2021. On October 12, 2021, she had a heated argument with DPP legislator Su Tseng-chang regarding the 2002 "ear-licking" case.[13] She left the Yuan at the conclusion of her term in February 2024.[citation needed]

On June 11, 2025, Cheng, Julian Kuo, Chen Pei-jer, Holger Chen, and others announced the foundation of the "Opposition Alliance", a party intended to "revive the spirit" of the tangwai movement and combat the DPP's so-called "Green Terror".[14]

Chairperson of the Kuomintang

[edit]

On September 18, 2025, Cheng Li-wun registered to run for the KMT chairmanship at the KMT Central Party Headquarters.[15] She was elected Chairperson of the Kuomintang in October 2025 and entered office on November 1, 2025.[16] The same month, she attended a White Terror commemoration event that honored Chinese Communist Party spy Wu Shi.[17][18][19]

Political positions

[edit]

In her younger days, Cheng supported the Taiwan independence movement, and described both the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party as "tyranny". Her political positions switched during her days with the Democratic Progressive Party, when she questioned the DPP's reaction to two-state theory and corruption scandals surrounding President Chen Shui-bian.[20] She later became a strong opponent of Taiwanese independence, calling it "Taiwan independence fascism".[21] She said that while President Lai Ching-te had not declared formal independence, his statements "conceal a pro-independence historical perspective and ideology", and accused the DPP of "green terror", referencing the White Terror, and also said the DPP was trying to "de-Sinicize Taiwan".[22]

Cheng is also viewed as favoring closer relations with mainland China and supporting the 1992 Consensus.[21] During her campaign to become Kuomintang chairperson, she said that she wants "all Taiwanese people to be able to proudly and confidently say, 'I am Chinese.'".[23] She also stated that "Taiwan and the mainland should join forces to reach new heights in human civilization".[24] She said that "At least 90% of Taiwan's culture, history, and bloodline are Chinese", continuing by saying "We speak Chinese, write Chinese characters, eat Chinese food, and worship Chinese gods. That's why I say it's a very natural thing to say 'we are Chinese".[22] Cheng supports easing cross-strait tensions with talks. She stated she is open to Chinese leader Xi Jinping if "it could ease tensions and promote peaceful cooperation".[25] She supports resuming the forum between Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party, which stopped in 2016.[22]

Cheng has warned against Taiwan over-relying on the United States, saying Taiwan "must not become a sacrifice or Trump's bargaining chip" and that it "must not become another Ukraine". She opposes raising Taiwan's defense budget to five per cent of the gross domestic product, calling it "too high and unreasonable for Taiwan",[21] and said it "cannot truly guarantee the security of the Taiwan Strait".[22] She opposed opening Taiwan's agricultural market, saying it would "have a very serious, even fatal, impact" on Taiwanese farmers.[22] In an interview held by Deutsche Welle, Cheng stated her worry that Taiwan under the presidency of Lai Ching-te would become like Ukraine under the Russian invasion. When the interviewer responded that "the dictator caused the war", she rejected the claim and described Vladimir Putin as "a leader with democratically elected", blaming the invasion on NATO.[20] Cheng later confirmed the statement and expressed her surprise that Putin was being labeled a dictator.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Cheng's family stems from Yunnan Province.[12] Cheng married her long-time boyfriend Luo Wu-chang in 2011.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Wang, Dingjun (2012-10-22). "總統令：特任鄭麗文為行政院發言人 23日生效" [Cheng Li-wun is the new spokeswoman of the Executive Yuan, effective on the 23rd] (in Chinese). Now News (formerly The China Post). Retrieved 2025-09-12 – via Yahoo News.
  2. ^ Dai, Chi-hsiu (2025-10-18). "Cheng Li-wun, a former member of the DPP, defeats Hau Lung-pin to become KMT party chair" (in Chinese). The Storm Media. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  3. ^ Cheng, An (September 18, 2025). "Cheng Li-wun, the first to register in the KMT chairmanship election: "I am not a child of the KMT elite"". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  4. ^ Cheng, Kuo-liang (September 27, 2025). "Cheng Li-wun, a descendant of a lone, foreign soldier, criticizes the DPP for dividing Taiwan". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  5. ^ Chang, Ding-wei (October 19, 2025). "Is Cheng Li-wun's experience similar to that of Tsai Ing-wen? A writer points out two similarities" (in Chinese). The Storm Media. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  6. ^ Ho, Che-hsin (2025-10-18). "Cheng Li-wun broke a record by switching from the DPP to the KMT" (in Chinese). EBC News. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  7. ^ a b "Who's Who in the ROC" (PDF). Executive Yuan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  8. ^ 立法院 (2013-07-23). "立法院". 立法院 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  9. ^ Chang, Ding-wei (2025-10-19). "Cheng Li-wun is a "double senior". According to a Cambridge professor, she was destined to become a historian" (in Chinese). The Storm Media. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  10. ^ "DPP maverick protests possible expulsion - Taipei Times"
  11. ^ "Lee, Cheng hang their heads in shame - Taipei Times"
  12. ^ a b "KMT Chairman Ma to request Cheng Li-wen to stay in place". The China Post. August 5, 2006. Archived from the original on August 8, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  13. ^ 風傳媒. "蘇貞昌稱助選過現在覺得丟臉 鄭麗文酸：26年前小恩小怨記這麼清楚". www.storm.mg (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  14. ^ 聯合新聞網. "「黨外在野大聯盟」11日成立！蕭旭岑、館長、郭正亮等入列…名單曝光". 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  15. ^ "KMT chair hopefuls submit candidate registration". Taipei Times. 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  16. ^ Liu, Kuan-ting; Ko, Lin (1 November 2025). "KMT's new chair vows to pursue cross-strait peace". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 November 2025. Republished in part as: "Cheng takes office with pledges". Taipei Times. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Memorial not focused on spy: KMT's Cheng". Taipei Times. 2025-11-09. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  18. ^ "KMT chair denies honoring CCP spies at White Terror memorial". Focus Taiwan. 2025-11-08. Retrieved 2025-11-09.
  19. ^ "MAC condemns KMT chair for attending controversial White Terror memorial". Focus Taiwan. 2025-11-09. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  20. ^ a b Tsou, Tzung Han (31 October 2025). "專訪鄭麗文：我願和習近平談兩岸和解". Deutsche Welle (in Chinese). Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Chau, Thompson (1 October 2025). "KMT dark horse rises in Taiwan opposition party's leadership race". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Taiwan defense buildup can't ensure security: New KMT boss Cheng Li-wun". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  23. ^ Lee, Yian; Wang, Cindy (18 October 2025). "China-Leaning Politician Wins Vote to Lead Taiwan Opposition KMT". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  24. ^ Hioe, Brian (2025-10-18). "Despite Accusations of Being China-Backed, Cheng Li-wun Wins KMT Party Chair Elections". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  25. ^ Chung, Lawrence (26 October 2025). "Can KMT's new outspoken chairwoman Cheng Li-wun win over Taiwan's mainstream voters?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  26. ^ Wang, Cheng-chung; Shih, Hsiu-chuan (31 October 2025). "Incoming KMT chair doubles down on 'Putin was elected' remarks". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairwoman of the Kuomintang
2025–present 		Incumbent