On Monday, Taiwan Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Zheng Liwen pointed out at a panel at the New York think tank "Asia Society" that if US President Trump can play a leading role, turning the region from war and conflict to cooperation and dialogue and creating a huge peace dividend, he will not only be a great American president, but also the greatest leader of the 21st century.
Zheng Liwen's public speech at the Asia Society attracted think tank scholars and former US officials. The event was hosted by Orville Schell, director of the Asia Society Center on US-China Relations, and scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel, who both asked questions on Zheng Liwen and the Kuomintang's cross-strait policy, the Zheng-Xi meeting, Taiwanese politics, and Taiwan-US relations.
Zheng Liwen and her delegation will head to Washington on the 9th. She stated that President Trump's visit to Beijing was a significant first step and hoped that he would not waste the remaining two-plus years of his term. For America to be great again, successfully managing East Asia and relations with China is likely the key.
Zheng Liwen said that confrontation or even going to war with China will not make America greater—in fact, it could bring extremely serious and devastating consequences. She hopes the US and China can start building mutual trust, exchanges, and friendship, and stop the Cold War and zero-sum mentality, and hopes the First Island Chain could be transformed into a chain of peace and prosperity.
She said that if America, in a leading role, can turn the region from war and conflict to creating a huge peace dividend through cooperation and dialogue, especially in the AI era, this would align with the interests of all countries in the region and absolutely be in America's national interest. If Trump can play this leading role, he will not only be a great American president but also a great world leader and the greatest leader of the 21st century.
Zheng Liwen emphasized that cross-strait peace and stability, her own efforts, and her dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping still very much need US support, which is why this visit to the US is of utmost importance to herself, the Kuomintang, and especially Taiwan.
Zheng Liwen cited the European Union as an example, noting that in the future, a brand new system will be developed according to the practical needs of cross-strait relations, with the focus on meeting people's concrete needs, protecting their well-being, and gaining their support.
Orville Schell responded that Zheng Liwen is an idealist. Zheng further explained that she is not only an idealist, but also has a roadmap, and that, based on political experience and competency, she is advancing step by step in a very pragmatic way; as for whether it can ultimately be achieved, she does not know. But until now, she has not found a more pragmatic method than the one she described, which excludes resolving cross-strait issues by force or coercion—this is the real realism.
Zheng Liwen pointed out that those who wish to resolve the cross-strait issue by force or coercion are unrealistic, as they will definitely hit a wall, will not succeed, and will pay a huge price. Any pragmatic politician will soon see that her proposal is indeed the truly realistic and feasible solution.