Taiwan opposition leader visits China for expected meeting with Xi Jinping

Taiwan Opposition Leader Visits China for Expected Meeting with Xi Jinping

Cheng Li-wun, the head of Taiwan’s primary opposition party, has embarked on a trip to China where she is anticipated to engage with President Xi Jinping. This visit, which spans six days across Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing, marks the first time an incumbent KMT chief has traveled to mainland China in over ten years. Cheng expressed her willingness to accept Xi’s invitation, aiming to foster “peace through dialogue” and position herself as a mediator between the island and the mainland.

Beijing severed some ties with Taiwan following the election of Tsai Ing-wen’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in May 2016, citing her stance on the single Chinese nation. While China asserts Taiwan is a province destined for unification, many in Taiwan view themselves as an independent nation. Most, however, support maintaining the current status quo—neither declaring independence nor seeking formal unification.

“Beijing wants a cordial meeting with Taiwan’s opposition to undermine the argument for US-Taiwan defence cooperation,” says Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National University’s Taiwan Centre.

The ruling DPP criticized Cheng’s itinerary, calling her “subservient” to Beijing and claiming her trip would be “completely controlled” by the Communist Party. The party also accused China of being the “main culprit in disrupting regional peace,” highlighting recent military activities near Taiwan. Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasized the government’s intent to monitor the visit closely.

Analysts note Cheng’s approach diverges from past KMT leaders, who generally adopted a more cautious stance on cross-strait relations. William Yang, an expert at the International Crisis Group, suggests her visit aims to “present herself as the political leader capable of maintaining cross-strait exchange” and potentially “reduce cross-strait tension.”

“Many do read Cheng as a fair-weather politician, an opportunist with little principle, and a politician that cares about her own position more than anything else,” says Chong Ja-Ian of the National University of Singapore.

Despite her earlier advocacy for Taiwanese independence, Cheng has sought to rebrand herself as a peace builder. This shift aligns with her efforts to strengthen her political standing amid criticism of President Lai Ching-te’s handling of China relations. The visit also coincides with growing doubts about U.S. support in Taiwan, attributed to Donald Trump’s inconsistent policies and the Middle East conflict.

The U.S. remains Taiwan’s principal arms supplier, though it maintains formal ties with Beijing. Trump recently proposed that Taiwan should reimburse the U.S. for its defense against China. A bipartisan delegation visited Taipei last week to push for a $40 billion defense budget, which faces hurdles in the opposition-controlled legislature. Cheng’s trip occurs ahead of Xi’s planned meeting with Trump on 14 and 15 May, a timing analysts believe could benefit China’s diplomatic agenda.