The height of Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, is considered a state secret. (Video screenshot)
[People News] On April 7, Zheng Liwen, the chairperson of the Kuomintang in Taiwan, embarked on a visit to the mainland, meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 10. This trip has drawn significant public attention. Taiwanese scholar Kou Jianwen views Zheng Liwen's visit to Beijing as a political gamble; as a relatively weak leader of the Kuomintang, she is in need of accomplishments and is attempting to leverage this visit to turn around her unfavourable position. However, many commentators have noted that the details of the Xi-Zheng meeting indicate that Zheng Liwen was treated with diminished status, suggesting a strong implication of humiliation from Xi Jinping.
Diminished Treatment Tests Zheng's Bottom Line
According to the Liberty Times, writer Zhao Xiaohui posted on Facebook that Zheng Liwen had to meet Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People without access to a black sedan car, instead taking a public bus with everyone else. Furthermore, upon arriving at the Great Hall of the People, she had to wait in the vehicle, which is entirely abnormal in the context of cross-strait diplomatic etiquette and the historical conventions of 'KMT-CCP talks.' This marks the most notable instance of 'diminished cold treatment' towards the chairperson of the Kuomintang in nearly 20 years, and Xi Jinping's treatment of Zheng Liwen as if she were on a public bus carries a strong implication of humiliation.
Zhao Xiaohui noted that in a typical meeting between heads of state or party leaders, distinguished guests are usually escorted to the "Fujian Hall" or "Taiwan Hall" at the Great Hall of the People to rest briefly and prepare tea while waiting for the formal discussions to commence. Allowing Zheng Liwen to wait idly on a public bus is a classic example of a "putting someone in their place" tactic. This demonstrates that Beijing has complete control over the timing and pace of the meeting, requiring Zheng Liwen to be on "standby" for a summons. In international etiquette, this treatment is generally reserved for subordinate agencies or affiliated units. Zheng Liwen lacks influence in Taiwan and within the Kuomintang, and she has no bargaining power in Beijing; she is not a negotiating counterpart, and Beijing is too apathetic to even maintain the facade of courtesy. Through this "downgraded cold treatment," Beijing is testing Zheng Liwen's limits. If she tolerates such treatment and continues to greet others with a smile, it indicates that she is even less likely to assert any sovereignty position in the forthcoming negotiations.
Xi did not secretly wear "short man’s joy."
Writer Fan Shiping remarked on the "Mirror News" program that Zheng Liwen, following Ma Ying-jeou's advice, chose not to wear high heels on the day of the meeting. From the footage, the height difference between Zheng Liwen and Xi Jinping appears minimal. However, if we look at the photo of Trump and Xi Jinping taken in Busan, South Korea, last year, they also seemed to be of similar height. Considering that Trump is 190 cm tall and Zheng Liwen is 178 cm, it suggests that Xi Jinping has shrunk by 12 cm from last year to now, and it is quite possible that he wore "short man’s joy" when he met Trump last year.
Fan Shiping also shared another observation. Typically, when Xi Jinping meets with other heads of state, he brings at least 12 accompanying officials. However, during the meeting with Zheng Liwen, both sides brought only 5 officials each. Fan Shiping explained that this choice was made to minimise the time spent on introductions. This suggests that the meeting between Xi Jinping and Zheng Liwen was merely a formality; Xi Jinping was primarily interested in the appearance of the meeting and did not engage in any substantial discussions with Zheng Liwen.
Zheng Liwen becomes 'Xi General Secretary'
Moreover, Zheng Liwen's comments during her meeting with Xi Jinping have drawn criticism from various Taiwanese commentators.
Regarding the so-called private discussions, Fan Shiping noted that according to reports from Chinese state media, Xi Jinping spoke more during these talks, but his remarks were largely empty, formulaic, and devoid of meaningful content. Zheng Liwen's speech was filled with the official rhetoric of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), using many terms that are not commonly used in Taiwan. It is clear that her speech was crafted by the CCP to praise Xi Jinping. Zheng Liwen's constant flattery of Xi Jinping was described as 'very distasteful.'
Political science PhD Wang Zhisheng pointed out on the program 'Taiwan Forward' that during the talks on the morning of the 10th, Zheng Liwen's language included phrases like '1992 Consensus, opposition to Taiwan independence, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.' These are all official slogans of the CCP. Zheng Liwen, who resembled 'Xi General Secretary, Xi's spokesperson,' repeatedly lauded China's poverty alleviation efforts and the 14th Five-Year Plan. 'Are these the words of the Kuomintang chairman or the spokesperson for Xi Jinping's office?' 'Zheng Liwen is like a CCTV anchor, a devoted fan of Xi Jinping.'
Additionally, Zheng Liwen expressed her hope that one day she would have the chance to host Xi Jinping in Taiwan. During her conversation with Xi Jinping, she even referred to him as 'leaders.' In response, Wang Zhisheng noted that Zheng Liwen's remarks and behaviour have already diminished her own stature. △
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