Kuomintang (KMT) chair 
Cheng Li-wun discussed the party's 2028 presidential nomination and her visits to Beijing and Washington in an interview with Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao. Responding to speculation that she might run for president in 2028, she said the KMT would not predetermine its candidate, much less tailor a system to suit any individual, CNA reported. The KMT publicised the interview in a press release on Aug. 31.
What did she say about a 2028 run? Speculation that she might run has recurred because of her distinctive political style, CNA reported. Cheng said her responsibility as chair is to build a fair system, nominate the strongest candidate, unite all opposition forces and preserve "blue-white" cooperation. Faced with differing voices inside and outside the party, she said the KMT would not change course because of headwinds: "We are walking against the wind, but I have not the slightest timidity, retreat or anxiety." She described herself as an idealist but by no means a dreamer, saying all policies must rest on reality.
What did she say about Beijing and Washington? In the interview, Cheng reviewed the results of her visits to Beijing and Washington in the first half of the year, CNA reported. She said the situation in the Taiwan Strait is severe and that reducing tension and avoiding armed conflict serve the interests of Taiwan, the mainland, the United States and the international community. Responding to doubts over whether the "1992 Consensus" still works, she said her Beijing trip showed there is still room to promote exchanges and reduce hostility. The US president, she said, wants to reshape US-China strategic relations for pragmatic reasons, though decades of competition and distrust cannot be undone overnight. She said she expects that when the two countries' leaders meet again at the end of September, they have a chance of making further progress.
Figures referenced: Cheng Li-wun. — JudgeMarket.
