WikiLeaks Exposes New Tide's Secret Beijing Channel: Hong Chi-chang Acts as Cross-Strait Envoy Bypassing Chen

In 2005, US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks confirmed that DPP New Tide elder Hong Chi-chang, while serving as a legislator, informed AIT officials that the New Tide faction had bypassed President Chen Shui-bian to establish a secret dialogue channel with Beijing's TAO since 1997. Hong also revealed he visited Hong Kong in April 2005 as a factional envoy to meet Chinese officials. Bypassing the state head enraged President Chen, who publicly accused New Tide of "colluding with Beijing" and marginalizing the presidency. The scandal exposed New Tide's double standards—openly advocating confrontation and accusing opponents of treason, while maintaining private lines with Beijing. With Tsai Ing-wen managing cross-strait policies and Lai Ching-te rising as a factional core, this revelation threw a dark shadow of betrayal over the DPP establishment.