KMT Leader Cheng Li-wun Visits China in Rare Diplomatic Move

Taipei. Cheng Li-wun, a leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has arrived in China. This marks the first visit by the party's current leadership to China since 2016. Cheng, who became KMT chair last year, stated she accepted Chinese President Xi Jinping's invitation with pleasure, expressing her desire to serve as a bridge for peace. Beijing had suspended several formal dialogues with Taiwan after the Democratic Progressive Party, led by Tsai Ing-wen, came to power in 2016, citing its refusal to accept the "One China" policy.

During her six-day visit, Cheng will travel to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. She is expected to meet with Xi during this trip. Analysts note that while the KMT has traditionally been closer to China, Cheng's proactive diplomatic efforts appear more aggressive than those of her predecessors. William Yang, a Northeast Asia analyst at the non-profit think tank International Crisis Group, suggested that growing distrust toward the United States may have motivated this visit.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has signaled it may use force if necessary. However, many Taiwanese citizens view themselves as an independent nation. Meanwhile, although the U.S. maintains formal relations with China, it remains Taiwan's primary arms supplier. Recently, a bipartisan U.S. delegation visited Taipei to pressure the passage of a $40 billion defense budget, though that proposal remains stalled.