Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party chairwoman Cheng Li-wun arrived in China on Tuesday (April 7) for what she described as a “peace” mission, with the possibility of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Her visit comes at a time of heightened military pressure from Beijing on Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, and amid political deadlock in Taiwan’s parliament over a proposed US$40 billion increase in defence spending.
Before departing Taipei, Cheng told reporters at KMT headquarters that she was embarking on a “historic journey for peace,” acknowledging that some citizens had expressed unease over the trip.
“If you truly love Taiwan, you will seize even the slightest chance, every possible opportunity, to keep Taiwan from being ravaged by war,” she said.
She added that she hoped the visit would help reduce tensions, saying: “We can transform the most dangerous place in the world into the safest place in the world.”
Cheng arrived at Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport under tight security before travelling by train to Nanjing, where she is expected to visit the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China.
China, which has not ruled out the use of force to achieve unification, continues to refuse official dialogue with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a “separatist”.
In Taipei, Lai reiterated his position during a memorial event, stressing that Taiwan is not part of the People’s Republic of China and has the right to determine its own democratic future.
“Equality and dignity are extremely important. Taiwan is not part of the People’s Republic of China and has the right to pursue a way of life that values democracy, freedom and human rights,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council urged Beijing to engage with the island’s democratically elected government and called on Cheng to raise concerns over ongoing military pressure during her meetings in China.
Officials also highlighted increased Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including multiple warship deployments around the island.
Cheng’s trip marks the first visit to China by a KMT leader in a decade and comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing later this year, where Taiwan is expected to be a key point of discussion.
