Ex-KMT chairwoman calls for end to ‘cold peace’, rebuilding of cross-strait trust

Philippine Canadian Inquirer
April 6, 2026

(File Photo | Wikimedia Commons)

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Former Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu has issued a forceful call to move past the current “cold peace” between Taiwan and mainland China, urging both sides to prioritize the restoration of mutual trust to prevent potential conflict.

In a Thursday statement posted to a mainland social media platform, Hung argued that the current state of stalled communication and “radical confrontation” is unsustainable.

She emphasized that the foundation for stability must be a return to the “1992 consensus,” the unofficial understanding that both sides belong to “one China” with their own respective interpretations.

“The key to cross-strait relations lies not in radical confrontation, but in profound mutual trust,” Hung wrote, according to reports. Her comments come at a highly sensitive time, just days before current KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is scheduled to depart for a landmark visit to mainland China—the first by a sitting KMT leader in a decade.

Hung, known for her staunch pro-unification stance, remains a significant figure in cross-strait advocacy. She warned that without a mechanism for dialogue, the “cold peace” risks devolving into a “hot” crisis.

Her statement is largely seen as a move to bolster the KMT’s traditional role as a bridge-builder with Beijing, contrasting with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) more skeptical approach toward mainland engagement.

Hung’s supporters argue that her vocal advocacy provides a necessary alternative to the current diplomatic deadlock, aiming to ensure that “peace is institutionalized” rather than left to chance.

Critics in Taipei, however, have expressed concern that such calls for “trust” may overlook Beijing’s increasing military pressure on the island.