How does Cheng Li-wun aim to gain US trust after Beijing visit?

Question

Accepted Answer

Cheng Li-wun says she wants the KMT to play a peace and stability role across the Taiwan Strait to earn deeper US trust after her Beijing visit.

Cheng Li-wun, the Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman, said before departing for the United States that she hopes her party can play a key role in regional peace efforts and “gain deeper trust from the US.” Her US trip comes after she visited Beijing and met Chinese President Xi Jinping, and she framed the KMT’s role in terms of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
She links “deeper trust” to a peace and stability role
Cheng told reporters that the KMT can play a key role in regional peace efforts as part of her stated goal to gain deeper trust from the United States. At a press conference, she also said “Only the KMT is truly serious and responsible” in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The material she provided does not lay out specific steps beyond this framing of the KMT’s role.
The Beijing trip and meeting with Xi set the immediate context
Cheng’s US trip follows her “peace” visit to Beijing, where she met Xi Jinping, described as the first such meeting in a decade. The timeline also places the trip after US President Donald Trump’s summit with Xi in Beijing, and it comes as regional attention remains focused on cross-strait relations and China. In this context, Cheng’s stated aim is presented as building trust with Washington after engaging Beijing.
She faces criticism for being too pro-China and that shapes US unease
Cheng has drawn criticism in Taiwan for being too pro-China, and her cross-strait rhetoric has caused unease among foreign partners, including Washington. The coverage notes that her rhetoric has gone beyond the comfort zone of many people within her own party and has contributed to foreign concern. However, the information provided does not specify how she intends to directly address those concerns beyond her repeated emphasis on peace and stability.
The KMT’s stance on defence spending is part of the backdrop, but no detailed plan is given
The KMT recently thwarted the Taiwanese government’s plan to spend nearly $40 billion on critical weapons, including US arms and domestically produced drones. Cheng’s US departure occurs in a period when she is expected to be grilled over the party’s stance on China and defence spending. Yet the material does not describe any detailed policy proposals or defence-spending positions she plans to use to win US trust.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How does Cheng Li-wun aim to gain US trust after Beijing visit?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

2

0

0

Share with friends