The leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party has accepted an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China in April, according to her party and Chinese state media.
Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson Cheng Li-wun, who assumed office in November, confirmed she would lead a delegation to China from April 7 to 12, endorsing an earlier report by Xinhua. However, neither side has confirmed whether she will meet Xi—a key objective she has publicly pursued ahead of a planned trip to the United States.
Cheng said she looks forward to working with Beijing to promote peaceful cross-Strait relations, expand exchanges and cooperation, and improve the well-being of people on both sides.
Her planned visit has sparked concern within the KMT, with some fearing that a potential meeting with Xi could trigger voter backlash in Taiwan’s upcoming district elections. Critics within the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have also accused Cheng of being overly aligned with Beijing, particularly as debates continue over boosting Taiwan’s defense spending.
Taiwan’s government, led by President Lai Ching-te, has proposed a NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) defense package, including major US arms purchases. The KMT has backed a smaller allocation of NT$380 billion, while advocating for dialogue alongside military preparedness.
Cheng has defended engagement with China, saying political efforts are essential to maintaining peace. While acknowledging that one meeting cannot resolve decades of tensions, she described potential talks with Xi as symbolically significant and a step toward building long-term stability.
Beijing has cut off high-level communication with Taiwan since 2016, when former president Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP took office. China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.
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