By Liu Wan-ling, Huang Chin-hsuan and Fion Khan / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) today confirmed that party Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) “journey of peace” to China, where she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), was subsidized by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, which is mainly funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

KMT Culture and Communication Committee deputy director Yin Nai-ching (尹乃菁) confirmed a report by Mirror Media that travel expenses for Cheng’s trip to China cost NT$4.8 million (US$152,101) and were covered by a subsidy from the foundation.

The KMT had legally applied to the foundation for funding to conduct party-to-party exchanges, she said.

Photo: AP

The foundation, which is chaired by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), was established in 2003 with the primary goal of “establishing a cooperative relationship and aligning with international democratic forces.”

In August 2022, the foundation was listed by China’s Taiwan Affairs Office as “an organization associated with Taiwanese separatists,” and was sanctioned by Chinese authorities.

It has been prohibited from exchanges with Chinese organizations, enterprises or individuals, while its members are not allowed to travel to China.

The foundation was established to promote exchanges between Taiwanese political parties, think tanks and counterparts in Asia and around the world, to advocate Taiwan’s values of democracy, freedom and human rights, Yin said.

If the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was willing to return to the “1992 consensus” and abandon its support for Taiwanese independence, it could also apply for subsidies from the foundation to engage in exchanges with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), she said.

The so-called “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and CCP that both sides of the Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.

Visits such as Cheng’s trip demonstrate Taiwan’s democratic and free political system, in which ruling and opposition parties alternate in power and can engage in normal exchanges with China, Yin said.

In response, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) asked if the KMT had discussed anything related to democracy with the CCP during the trip.

Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) expressed surprise at the news, saying that the public would inevitably question whether such expenditures align with the foundation’s original mission.

Now that the trip has ended, the KMT should stop delaying the defense budget, as the public is concerned with substantive actions regarding national security, she said.

Having sufficient defense capabilities is essential to ensuring that Taiwanese can maintain their democratic and free way of life, she added.

DPP caucus secretary-general Fan Yun (范雲), who also serves as a foundation board member, urged Cheng to withdraw the application, saying that public funds should not be used for exchanges in China that lack democratic and human rights elements.

The KMT’s trip to China and Cheng’s meeting with Xi were subsidized by an organization sanctioned by the CCP, DPP Legislator Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said, calling Cheng very “brave.”

If there are concerns, they should be addressed through the appropriate legislative bodies, KMT Legislator Lo Ming-tsai (羅明才) said.

The practice has been in place for years and should not be politicized, Lo added.

The foundation said in a statement today that it processes applications in accordance with its party subsidy guidelines and procedures.

The KMT’s proposal stated that through site visits and participation in events, it would promote Taiwan’s democratic and free values in China, foster peaceful cross-strait development and safeguard stability and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, the statement said.

The foundation encourages domestic political parties to promote activities related to democracy and human rights, as well as cooperation between Taiwan and international non-governmental organizations, with the aim of enhancing the quality of Taiwan’s democracy and its international standing, it said.

The foundation’s charter says that up to one-third of its annual budget, as approved by the legislature, can be allocated for subsidies to political parties that receive more than 5 percent of the vote in legislative elections, including overseas ballots, for activities related to democracy and human rights.

Each party can receive up to NT$30 million, with allocations proportionate to legislative seat share, the charter says.

It also stipulates that the foundation must not fund activities related to unification or independence, support foreign political groups in breaching local laws or lobby foreign entities to act in ways that contravene the Constitution.

Additional reporting by Chen Yun, Lo Kuo-chia and CNA