KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun arrives in China for high-stakes visit

BEIJING. KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, arrived in China on Tuesday. This marks the first visit by an incumbent party leader in a decade.

Accepting an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Cheng stated she has come to China to serve as a bridge for peace. During her six-day visit, she will travel to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing, with a meeting with President Xi scheduled for the final leg of the trip.

Since Democratic Progressive Party leader Tsai Ing-wen became president of Taiwan in 2016, China has severed several communication channels with the island, frustrated by Tsai's rejection of the 'One China' principle.

Against this backdrop, the KMT leader's visit is being viewed as highly significant. Political analysts have noted that Cheng appears more proactive than her predecessors, who traditionally maintained softer relations with Beijing.

The visit comes at a time of growing distrust toward the United States in Taiwan, fueled by contradictory signals from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Taiwan policy and his suggestions that Taiwan should pay for its own defense.

According to analyst William Yang, Cheng is using this opportunity to position herself as the only political leader capable of de-escalating tensions. The visit may also prove politically advantageous ahead of local elections in Taiwan later this year.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to use force if necessary to achieve reunification. Recently, a U.S. delegation visited Taiwan to pressure the passage of a $40 billion defense budget, which remains stalled in the opposition-controlled parliament.

Political analyst Wen-ti Sung suggests that by welcoming the Taiwanese opposition leader ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump on May 14 and 15, President Xi is attempting to challenge the legitimacy of U.S.-Taiwan defense cooperation.