Boston’s Chinatown welcomed a visit from the delegation led by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairperson Zheng Lifen on June 5th. The delegation participated in a symposium at the New England Chinese Community Center in the morning and a banquet at the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant in the evening, expressing support for the Republic of China and its principles of democracy, freedom, and rule of law.
In the morning at the Chinese Community Center in Boston’s Chinatown, members of the Boston KMT and representatives from traditional overseas Chinese communities warmly greeted Zheng Lifen and her delegation. The chairman of the Chinese Community Center, Lei Guohui, emphasized the community’s longstanding tradition of supporting the Republic of China, with the flag prominently displayed as a symbol of this support.
Lei Guohui stated, “This is not easy. This is like a microcosm of Taiwan. We work diligently every day to ensure we maintain our freedom and democracy, as this is our belief. Your visit is beneficial to us, allowing us to learn from one another, cooperate, assist each other, and enhance our country.”
During the Q&A session, Yu Liyi, the chairperson of the New England Chinese Association (organizers of the annual Boston Double Ten Parade), raised a question about how the KMT plans to address the mainland Chinese authorities’ “One China” policy, which aims to eliminate the Republic of China.
Zheng Lifen’s response focused on the concept of “One China, Different Interpretations” and peaceful exchanges. She mentioned that no country supports Taiwan independence and added, “Our Republic of China Constitution is also a One China Constitution.” She suggested that based on the “1992 Consensus,” strategic ambiguity, peaceful coexistence, and dialogues could be implemented to allow for diverse coexistence without the need to make both sides identical.
“The definition of this One China, who defines it and how it is defined, can be discussed later,” Zheng Lifen said.
In her speech, Zheng Lifen expressed gratitude for the warmth and support shown by overseas Chinese for the Republic of China, even on the distant East Coast of the U.S. She acknowledged the efforts required to maintain this support, as symbolized by the Republic of China flag hanging in the community center.
“And in Taiwan, there are some who do not cherish what we’ve built with such painstaking effort since the post-war period, as Chairman Lei just mentioned: a society characterized by democracy, rule of law, freedom, and prosperity, which the whole world admires. Under the Republic of China Constitution, we have created many miracles,” she stated.
The miracles mentioned by Zheng Lifen include the economic successes of the “Four Asian Tigers,” the political transformation towards democracy, and the semiconductor industry represented by TSMC, also known as the “Guardian Mountain of Taiwan,” among others.
She also addressed some current issues in Taiwan, such as legislation passed by the Legislative Yuan not being implemented by the government, stagnation in the service and tourism industries, economic uncertainties, and energy shortages resulting from the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.
Emphasizing the desire to help the KMT return to power and protect Taiwan’s achievements, Zheng Lifen stressed the importance of peace. She stated, “If there is no peace behind all this, then everything else is in vain.” She hoped for Taiwan to play a role in stabilizing regional relations and bringing welfare to humanity.
She further highlighted the historical bond between the Republic of China, the KMT, and the United States, emphasizing the need to sustain and strengthen this relationship. Zheng Lifen expressed hope for the U.S. to continue its role as a force for peace and stability globally.
Following the symposium with overseas Chinese, Zheng Lifen and her delegation visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and met with Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
In the evening at the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant in Chinatown, around 300 guests from the Boston area and representatives from overseas Chinese communities attended the banquet to welcome Zheng Lifen and her delegation. The event was hosted by Zhang Yunlan, a member of the Boston KMT Central Committee, and Zheng Zengshou, the Chairman of the Glory Association.
There was a slight mishap during the banquet when the bus driver inadvertently took Zheng Lifen and her delegation to a different branch of the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant in Massachusetts, causing a delay of about an hour and a half. Despite this, the overseas Chinese community patiently waited, warmly welcoming them upon arrival at the original banquet venue in Chinatown, waving Republic of China flags.
Next, Zheng Lifen and her delegation will proceed to New York, Chinatown, Los Angeles, and engage in discussions with local American officials, scholars, and overseas Chinese.