In the context of discussing cross-strait relations during the DW interview, Cheng criticized President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), saying "their words and actions could very well turn Taiwan into a second Ukraine."

When Tsou then asked her whether it was Putin who decided to start the war in Ukraine, Cheng replied, "Of course not."

"The core reason the war broke out and continues today is NATO's repeated eastward expansion," Cheng said.

Cheng contended that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and allied countries had long ago abandoned plans to let Ukraine join NATO, "none of this would have happened."

Eyebrow raising to hear this coming from the KMT given their long history with the US.