Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, is set to travel to China this week, describing the visit as a «peace mission.» Meanwhile, Beijing is intensifying efforts to promote what it calls «reunification,» and it remains unclear whether Cheng will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Reuters reported.
China, which considers Taiwan its territory, calls the island’s current government «separatists» and continues to mount military pressure in the region. In turn, the KMT is trying to ease tensions with its powerful neighbor. It has effectively delayed a government proposal for $40 billion in additional defense spending, a move supported by the U.S., as the party currently holds a majority in Taiwan’s parliament.
Cheng has argued that maintaining peace with China requires more than military strength, highlighting the importance of political engagement. Nevertheless, she indicated that discussions on reunification are premature, stressing the need to build stable and peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait.
In response, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accused the opposition of aligning with Beijing and undermining Taiwan’s defense efforts.
The Kuomintang also has a significant historical role in cross-strait relations. After losing the Chinese civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists in 1949, KMT forces retreated to Taiwan, where the party remains a major political force today.
