KMT chief Cheng Li-wun aims to reassure U.S. over China stance

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Taipei: Taiwan's main opposition leader, Cheng Li-wun, said on Monday that she intends to ‘gain deeper trust’ from the United States as she embarks on a two-week trip to boost ties with Washington amid rising criticism of her party's stance on China and defence spending.

Cheng, the leader of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), is set to meet with US lawmakers, government officials, and policy experts during her trip. The visit comes just a few weeks after she visited Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, making her the first KMT leader to do so in a decade.

Before leaving Taipei, Cheng stated that the KMT remains committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and seeks to improve trust with Washington. She emphasised that communication is essential to prevent war and contended that interaction with China should not be interpreted as opposition to the United States.

Her visit follows while the KMT was criticised for blocking parts of the Taiwanese government's proposed $40 billion defence package, which included funding for U.S.-backed military projects and domestically made drones.

Cheng is expected to face difficult questioning in Washington regarding her party's stance on Beijing and its dedication to Taiwan's defence, according to analysts. Critics warn that the KMT's increasing interaction with Beijing could destroy trust among Taiwan's foreign allies, while supporters argue that communication might ease tensions with China.