Ms. Zheng Liwen, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's main opposition party, arrived in Shanghai to begin a six-day visit to the People's Republic of China. This marks the first visit to China by a party leader in nearly 10 years, aimed at fostering "peace" across the Taiwan Strait amid escalating political and military tensions.
Ms. Zheng is the first KMT leader to visit China since 2016. Her itinerary includes Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing, where she is expected to meet President Xi Jinping before proceeding to visit the United States.
Ms. Zheng, who became KMT chairwoman last year, said she gladly accepted President Xi Jinping’s invitation and hopes to act as a "bridge of peace" following China's partial suspension of communications with Taiwan after Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected Taiwan's president in 2016, citing her refusal to endorse the One-China principle.
Before departure, Ms. Zheng held a press conference at the party headquarters in Taipei, stating that Taiwan must do everything possible to prevent war. "Goodwill must be built, and mutual trust needs to be expanded step by step from both sides," she said. She added that the visit focuses on stability and is not related to arms purchases as the government fears.
This visit comes at a critical time as Taiwan’s legislature, controlled by the opposition, is deadlocked over a defense budget of 1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 1.27 trillion baht). Ms. Zheng opposes the budget and insists "Taiwan is not an ATM," proposing the KMT’s plan to allocate only 380 billion New Taiwan dollars for arms purchases from the United States instead.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council warned that China may use this visit as a tool to "cut off arms purchases and military cooperation between Taiwan and the United States," which is Taiwan’s main security guarantee.
The situation is further complicated as the United States pressures Taiwan’s opposition to support the arms budget to defend against Chinese attacks, while the KMT itself is divided between factions favoring closer ties with China following Ms. Zheng’s approach and moderates who believe Taiwan needs a larger defense budget to counter growing threats.
Ms. Zheng’s visit occurs just one month before President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing, with arms sales to Taiwan being a major point of Chinese displeasure. Ms. Zheng concluded that Taiwan does not need to "choose sides" between China and the United States but must maintain a balance to ensure the safety of its people.
. . .AFP