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Birds Not Missiles Should Fly in the Skies, Taiwan Opposition Leader Says in China
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 9, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 9, 2026
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KMT leader Cheng Li‑wun, on a “peace mission” in Shanghai, invoked imagery of birds—not missiles—and quoted ‘In Flanders Fields’ to call for tranquility amid escalating Chinese military activity around Taiwan.
Taiwan Opposition Leader Advocates Peace as China Maintains Military Pressure
Cheng Li-wun's Peace Mission Amid Rising Tensions
Calls for Peace and Symbolic References
TAIPEI, April 9 (Reuters) - Birds not missiles should fly in the skies, Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun said on Thursday in Shanghai, citing a World War One poem on the need to promote peace, even as China keeps up its daily military activities around the island
Cheng, chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT), is in China on what she has called a "peace" mission to lessen tensions at a time when Beijing has stepped up military pressure against the island it calls its own.
China's Stance on Taiwan's Leadership
China refuses to talk to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist". Lai's administration has called on Cheng to tell China to stop its threats, and says Beijing should engage with the democratically elected government in Taipei.
Cheng's Remarks in Shanghai
Speaking to reporters at Shanghai's Yangshan Port, Cheng said she was fond of how ancient Norse sailors described the sea as the "road of the whale".
"These words are spoken with such humility, and they are entirely right. What should fly in the sky are birds, not missiles. What should swim in the water are fish, not warships," she said, in comments carried live on Taiwanese television stations.
Quoting Historical Poetry for Peace
Cheng, who flies to Beijing late on Thursday for a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, also quoted, in English, part of John McCrae's World War One poem "In Flanders Fields" - "If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep".
"We may not have been able to give our ancestors peace, but we can certainly still give peace to the people of today and the people of the future," she said.
Ongoing Military Pressure and Political Responses
Beijing has maintained its daily military activities around Taiwan despite Cheng's presence in China. Taiwan's defence ministry said on Thursday morning that during the previous 24-hour period it had detected six Chinese military aircraft and eight warships around the island.
Reactions from Taiwan's Government
"The facts prove that the Chinese communists' military threat against Taiwan is intensifying," Michelle Lin, a lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, wrote on her Facebook page.
"Cheng Li-wun has been on her trip for two days, and the Chinese communists still have a knife at Taiwan's throat."
Lai's Repeated Offers for Dialogue
Lai has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing, whose sovereignty claims he rejects, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Key Takeaways
- •Cheng Li‑wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition KMT, is in China from April 7–12 on a peace mission, possibly meeting Xi Jinping—a first such visit by a KMT chair in a decade. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
- •She used poetic metaphors—‘birds, not missiles’ and the sea as the ‘road of the whale’—underscoring her appeal for peace and humility amid cross‑Strait tensions. (apnews.com)
- •Despite her visit, Chinese military pressure continued: Taiwan detected six PLA aircraft and eight warships in the previous 24 hours, reflecting ongoing gray‑zone coercion. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Birds not missiles should fly in the skies, Taiwan opposition leader says in China
1Why is Taiwan's opposition leader visiting China?
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's Kuomintang party, is visiting China on a peace mission to reduce tensions between Taiwan and China.
2What message did Cheng Li-wun deliver in Shanghai?
She called for peace, referencing birds not missiles flying in the skies, and urged the end of military threats around Taiwan.
3How has China responded to the visit?
China has maintained its daily military activities around Taiwan despite Cheng's visit, keeping up pressure on the island.
4What has been Taiwan's official response to Cheng's visit to China?
Taiwan's government asked Cheng to urge China to stop its threats and to engage in dialogue with Taipei's democratically elected administration.
5Who is Cheng Li-wun expected to meet in China?
Cheng Li-wun might meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during her trip to Beijing.
