A brush with reunification

Chen's natural pursuit of cross-Strait peace and reunification since childhood is rooted in her family's patriotic tradition. Both her grandfather and granduncle were political victims of Taiwan's "white terror" in the 1950s. While her granduncle was sentenced to death, her grandfather was imprisoned for 15 years.

As is the tradition in her family, Chen believes that only cross-Strait reunification will bring an end to Taiwan people's century-long suffering.

Chen had predicted there would be tensions across the Strait this year, as the DPP hyped up cross-Strait relations in the run-up to elections in January and some US politicians colluded with them.

However, she firmly believes that cross-Strait reunification is inevitable and Taiwan people will understand the reunification of the two sides better after learning more about the mainland and the CPC's initiatives.

Due to long-term political factors, Chen said most of her generation has not participated in cross-Strait exchanges much, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years has further hampered such exchanges.

"It is only after actually taking part in cross-Strait exchanges that one understands how Taiwan and the mainland are inseparable," she said.