TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (台灣民主基金會) funded KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's (鄭麗文) six-day visit to China at a cost of approximately NT$4.8 million (US$152,200), Mirror Daily (鏡報) reported on Thursday (April 16). The revelation has sparked debate over whether the government-backed foundation's funds should support trips to China by opposition party leaders.
Liao Da-chi (廖達琪), the foundation's executive director, said the funding aligns with each party's representation in Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院). The KMT and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) hold similar numbers of seats, resulting in comparable funding allocations. The Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) also receives funding proportional to its legislative seats.
Liao said the foundation has provided special grants to parties since its inception for activities related to democracy, human rights and Taiwan's diplomatic expansion. Party applications often frame trips like Cheng's as promoting these values in China, and the foundation typically supports such initiatives given the parties' proportional representation on its board.
Liao classified Cheng's visit as a diplomatic activity. He also addressed media questions about Premier Cho Jung-tai's (卓榮泰) recent trip to Japan, which required private funding. Liao said Cho's trip would have received similar consideration had the DPP officially applied for foundation support, adding that all parties receive equal treatment under the foundation's guidelines.
