Taiwan opposition leader accepts Xi's invite to visit China
dw.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of Taiwan's largest opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), will visit China in April after accepting an invitation from President Xi Jinping, aiming to promote peaceful cross-strait relations and cooperation.
- Cheng hopes to meet Xi during the visit, which would be the first by a sitting KMT chairperson since 2016, though it remains unclear if a meeting with Xi is confirmed.
- The visit has sparked controversy in Taiwan, with concerns that it could trigger voter backlash in upcoming district elections and criticism from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accusing Cheng of stalling defense budget approval.
- The KMT supports strengthening Taiwan's defenses but opposes approving a $40 billion special defense budget without more government details, contrasting with the DPP's push for increased military spending.
- Cheng views the visit as symbolically significant and a potential foundation for peaceful dialogue, emphasizing that a single meeting cannot resolve long-standing cross-strait issues.
