Legislators from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and various government representatives claimed on April 8, 2026, that the recent actions of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in China have compromised the sovereignty of the nation, Taipei Times reports. These accusations emerged as the opposition head visited the Sun Yat-sen memorial in Nanjing.

This diplomatic friction highlights the deepening internal rift over cross-strait relations, where high-level private engagements with Beijing often trigger fears of backroom deals that could bypass democratic oversight and erode Taiwan’s independent standing on the global stage.

Cheng is slated to hold talks with President Xi Jinping during her six-day itinerary, occurring at a time when essential military allocations and state financing remain stalled in the legislature. DPP caucus leader Chuang Jui-hsiung emphasised during a Taipei press briefing that the KMT lacks the mandate to negotiate the territory's destiny with the Chinese Communist Party in private.

The DPP argue that Cheng’s endorsement of the 1992 understanding—a concept first introduced by Su Chi in 2000—supports Beijing’s goal of absorption. While the KMT views this as a mutual recognition of a single Chinese entity with differing definitions, critics point to data from National Chengchi University showing a mere 2.5% of the population see themselves as Chinese, whereas 62% identify as Taiwanese.

Further data provided by Legislator Fan Yun indicated that 81% of the public rejects the "one country, two systems" model, with 70% supporting the release of the frozen defence funds. The Mainland Affairs Council noted that Cheng’s tribute to Sun Yat-sen was exploited by Beijing’s media to delegitimise the Republic of China, as the CCP positions itself as Sun’s sole political successor.

According to the Taipei Times, National Security Bureau head Tsai Ming-yen cautioned that while he cannot interfere in party politics, China is actively using "grey zone" intimidation alongside targeted hospitality to fracture Taiwanese unity. He suggested these orchestrated visits are designed to bolster specific political groups while pressuring the public into a peace agreement on Beijing’s terms.

On April 9, the Chairwoman was scheduled to inspect Shanghai’s Yangshan Port and deliver an address before touring the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (see image). Following a midday speech and luncheon with the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, she will depart Shanghai at 14:30 on flight MF8562, arriving in Beijing at 16:55 for an overnight stay.