The chairwoman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, Cheng Li-wen, has kicked off her historic visit to China, the first such trip by a KMT leader in a decade. The six-day visit, which includes stops in Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing, aims to promote peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, according to Cheng. The trip comes at a time of heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, with Cheng stressing that Taiwan must do everything possible to prevent war from breaking out.
- KMT Chairman Cheng Li-wen began a six-day, unprecedented visit to China in a decade.
- Cheng Li-wen’s trip aims to strengthen peace and stability in the Straits.
- Cheng Li-wen shifted from supporting independence to promoting closer ties with Beijing.
- Laj’s government is pushing for a defense budget of 1.25 trillion, the KMT offers significantly less.
- Taiwan has been functioning independently since 1949, but China does not rule out the forcible unification of the island.
Cheng, who in the past supported Taiwan’s independence, today promotes closer relations with Beijing. In a press conference before her departure, she said that building trust between Taiwan and China is key to maintaining peace. But her visit has sparked controversy, with some critics, including members of her own party, accusing her of being too pro-China. The invitation to visit came directly from Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom Cheng plans to meet before his planned trip to the US.
Controversy surrounding the visit
Cheng Li-wen’s trip to China comes as Taiwan’s parliament debates proposals to increase defense spending. The government of President Lai Ching-teo and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has proposed a special budget of 1.25 trillion Taiwan dollars (34 billion euros) to strengthen the island’s military capabilities, including buying weapons from the US. However, the KMT is proposing a lower budget of NT$380 billion, leaving open the possibility of further acquisitions.
The DPP, which rejects China’s claims to Taiwan, accuses Beijing of trying to influence the KMT and weaken Taiwan’s defenses. Cheng rejects the accusations and says her party supports peaceful solutions that would prevent the conflict from escalating. Still, her visit is being met with suspicions that it may be part of China’s broader strategy to strengthen its influence in Taiwan.
Historical tension
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly declared that it will one day control the island, not ruling out the use of force. However, Taiwan has operated as an independent entity with its own government since 1949. The current DPP government is trying to strengthen the island’s defenses and maintain the support of the US, which is Taiwan’s main arms supplier.
Cheng Li-wen’s visit is therefore seen as an important step in efforts to improve relations between Taiwan and China. But it also raises questions about whether such moves could weaken Taiwan’s position in its efforts to maintain independence and security.
