New Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun has made cross-strait peace her core mission, a relatively positive signal for those worried about conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

• Cheng said her original intention in taking up the party chairmanship was to "turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk" — not merely to avoid war, but to forge peace.
• She described the Taiwan Strait as what the outside world sees as the most dangerous place in the world, where war could break out at any moment, and argued that Taiwan's future should be held in its own hands.
• She spoke at a charity event held by the Chou Ta-kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, honouring Nigerian human rights lawyer and poet Karimot Odebode.
• She also noted that beyond Taiwan's economic strength and its democracy and freedoms, civic groups sharing resources with Africa and helping women escape poverty through education likewise deserve to be seen.
• Her message to young people was "don't be afraid of being moved, don't be afraid of doing foolish things" — what is precious is a willingness to set the self aside for a greater value.

Outlook: Cross-strait relations will be the central theme of Cheng Li-wun's term as party chair, and what follows depends on how she turns her advocacy of peace into concrete measures.