KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing — Calls for 'Seeds of Peace'; Taiwan MAC Criticizes 'Veiled' ROC Reference

On April 8, 2026 — Day 2 of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's April 7-12 mainland China visit — Cheng led her delegation to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, ascending its 392 steps to present a wreath in tribute. PRC state media (Xinhua, Global Times, People's Daily) covered the visit extensively, framing the KMT within a Chinese national heritage narrative. Cheng stated: 'I hope that today we can plant the seeds of peace not only for Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, but for all humanity,' and urged both sides to 'work together to promote cross-strait reconciliation and unity, and create regional prosperity and peace.' Focus Taiwan reported that Cheng referenced the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) during the visit 'in a veiled manner' — notably distinct from Beijing's preferred framing. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) criticized Cheng's approach, saying such references to the ROC 'will not be reported by media in China' and that Cheng as KMT chairperson 'should have rejected such wording' given its diplomatic limitations. Whether Cheng will meet President Xi Jinping remains officially unconfirmed: China's Taiwan Affairs Office declined to confirm the Xi meeting when asked. The Taipei Times noted MAC's view that Cheng's 'veiled' ROC references did not go far enough given Beijing's information control over how the visit is presented to Chinese audiences. The delegation continues toward Beijing. The visit unfolds 36 days before the Trump-Xi Beijing summit (May 14-15), with Taiwan's DPP government and US national security officials monitoring the diplomatic optics closely.