Her mentioning of "President Ma Ying-jeou of our central government" -- a taboo in China -- while meeting with Chinese officials particularly won praise from Democratic Progressive Party members who had previously opposed the trip.

DPP Legislator Pan Men-an said he had not approved of Chen's China trip, but the mayor's "President Ma" remark and her composure were laudable.

DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-ying said she was elated to hear Chen making that reference to Ma, which she said showed the political heavyweight's wisdom and experience.

KMT Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng also lauded Chen for her courage in making the remark.

"Chen's action demonstrated patriotism. Her courage in saying what other Taiwanese politicians have dared not say in Beijing before is worthy of our emulation," Wang said.

The mayor arrived in China Thursday to promote the upcoming World Games 2009 in her city. But her capacity as a heavyweight of the pro-Taiwan independence party has sparked concerns inside the opposition camp over the trip's implications when the DPP is vehemently condemning the Ma administration's pro-China line.

Some DPP leaders were critical of the timing of the trip, which took place just a few days after the party organized a massive demonstration in Taipei last weekend to protest Ma's China-leaning policies.

But the focus has now been turned to her "President Ma" remark.

Former DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui, who is dubbed the "master" of pro-independence discourse, said Chen's visit is a wake-up call that the party needs to rethink its China policy.

The DPP must ponder how it can maintain its firm stance while showing "appropriate friendliness" towards China.

"Chen Chu's Beijing trip has created an impact on both the ruling and opposition camps. The actual impact is deeper and complex than what it appears," Lin said.

Lin admitted that he had been worried that Chen might kowtow to China during the trip or accept the idea of "one China, two systems."

Her "President Ma" remark dispelled all the fears and worries, Lin said. He said Chen's composure shows that Taiwan and China can be on an equal footing.

"It just takes courage and tact," said Lin.

DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang said Chen's remark highlighted the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign country.

DPP Legislator Tsai Huang-liang said that KMT politicians, including former Vice President Lien Chan and incumbent KMT Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, should feel shame for not daring to talk about Taiwan's sovereignty during their visits to China.

Tsai praised Chen's performance in Beijing, saying that DPP members should not be averse to meeting with Chinese political leaders.

"The DPP should firmly defend Taiwan's independent sovereignty and let China hear the voices of the Taiwanese people more clearly, rather than sit idly by and let the KMT administration play into Beijing's hands," he said.

The KMT chairman, who is going on another trip to China soon, said it was "natural" for Chen to refer to Ma as president. When asked if he would also openly refer to Ma as president during his upcoming China trip, Wu said, "You'll find out."

KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun called for the DPP not to close itself off from the rest of the world any longer, saying that Taiwan needs the DPP to open its heart to better improve cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Kuo also called for the Chinese leadership to invite more DPP figures to visit China in the future to help promote cross-strait ties.

Chen, accompanied by Kaohsiung Deputy Mayor Lee Yung-te and Liu Shi-fang, a board member of the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee, is the highest-ranking incumbent DPP official to ever set foot in China.

She played host at a dinner in Beijing that evening to entertain leading travel agency operators from the Chinese capital in a bid to attract more Chinese to visit her city.

Chen and her group were scheduled to fly to Shanghai Saturday for a 24-hour whirlwind visit for similar World Games promotion activities.

She is also scheduled to meet with her Shanghai counterpart Han Zheng and to preside over a dinner with tourism leaders in Shanghai that evening.