Taiwan Opposition Leader to Visit China Ahead of Key U.S.-China Summit
Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is set to visit China next month following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The visit, scheduled for April 7–12, will take Cheng to Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province, according to Chinese state media. It comes just weeks before a planned summit between Donald Trump and Xi, adding further significance to the timing of the trip.
Cheng, who was elected KMT chairwoman in October, has signaled a willingness to pursue closer ties with Beijing compared to her predecessor. Accepting the invitation, she expressed hope that the visit would mark a “new spring” in cross-strait relations and help build mutual trust.
“We will work hard for cross-strait peace and stability… and let the whole world feel at ease,” Cheng told reporters in Taipei.
China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory, has refused to engage with the government of Lai Ching-te, labeling him a separatist. However, Beijing has maintained communication channels with opposition figures from the KMT.
The trip has drawn criticism from Taiwan’s ruling party. Hsu Kuo-yung, a senior official from the Democratic Progressive Party, urged Cheng to affirm Taiwan’s sovereignty during her visit.
“I hope she tells Xi that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country,” he said, while also highlighting Taiwan’s democratic system of electing its own leaders.
The announcement comes amid ongoing political tensions in Taiwan, where the government is seeking parliamentary approval for an additional $40 billion in defense spending. The opposition KMT has supported strengthening defenses but has called for greater transparency before approving the budget.
Relations between China and Taiwan remain deeply strained, rooted in the unresolved civil war of 1949, when the KMT-led government retreated to Taiwan after losing to communist forces. No formal peace agreement has ever been signed between the two sides.
Analysts say the upcoming visit could influence regional dynamics, particularly ahead of the anticipated Trump-Xi meeting, as global attention remains focused on stability in the Taiwan Strait.
