Taiwan’s Opposition Leader Tries to Clear the Air with US Leaders

Taiwan’s main opposition figure spent two weeks in the US last month to clear up confusion about her party’s plans for dealing with China. Cheng Li-wun, head of the Kuomintang (KMT), met nine US lawmakers from key committees, plus think tank researchers and policy experts. She argued that many in Washington misunderstand her party’s push for closer talks with Beijing. Her party and a smaller ally control Taiwan’s parliament. Critics in the US say the KMT slashed a plan to spend an extra $40 billion on weapons by a third. Republicans like Senator Dan Sullivan call this reckless, saying Taiwan needs stronger defenses fast. Cheng pushed back, telling the Americans in person that her party still backs Taiwan’s safety and freedoms. She also hinted that the KMT might write its own defense laws if experts think it’s a good idea.China insists Taiwan belongs to it and has threatened force to take control. The US, though not officially tied to Taiwan, has long supplied arms and supports its ability to protect itself. Cheng praised both US and Chinese leaders for a recent meeting she called a step toward calm. She dodged questions about Trump calling a $14 billion arms deal “a great chip” in talks with Xi, saying the topic never came up. When asked about Xi, Cheng described him as calm and sincere, hinting he might prefer peace over conflict. Still, her trip showed how tricky it is to balance US worries about Taiwan’s security with calls for dialogue in Beijing.