BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China on Tuesday, describing her trip as a “peace mission” aimed at easing tensions across the Taiwan Strait, as concerns grow over increased Chinese military activity around the island and political divisions at home.
Cheng, chairwoman of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), is making the այց at a sensitive time, with Beijing intensifying pressure on Taiwan and lawmakers in Taipei delaying approval of a proposed $40 billion defense spending increase. The stalled legislation reflects ongoing disagreements between the government and opposition-controlled parliament over how to respond to rising security threats.
Speaking before leaving Taipei, Cheng acknowledged that her trip had caused unease among some Taiwanese citizens but defended it as a necessary effort to preserve peace. She said any opportunity to reduce the risk of conflict should be pursued, emphasizing that dialogue remains essential even in periods of heightened tension.
“If there is even a small chance to prevent war, it is worth trying,” she said, expressing hope that the visit could help reduce risks and improve stability in the region.
After arriving in Shanghai under tight security, Cheng traveled to Nanjing, a city closely tied to the history of the KMT and home to the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China. She is expected to continue to Beijing later in the week, where a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has not been officially confirmed.
China continues to claim Taiwan as its territory and has refused to engage with Taiwan’s current president, Lai Ching-te, describing him as a separatist. Beijing has instead maintained pressure through diplomatic isolation and increased military activity.
Taiwanese officials say Chinese naval forces are currently deployed around the island in multiple locations. Kuan Bi-ling, head of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, reported that warships have been positioned off the east coast and in northern, northwestern, and southwestern waters, reflecting what Taipei views as a strategy of sustained military pressure.
Kuan described the situation as a form of encirclement, highlighting the contrast between China’s military posture and Cheng’s efforts at political outreach.
At the same time, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing to engage with the island’s democratically elected government rather than relying on opposition figures. Minister Chiu Chui-cheng urged Cheng to press Chinese authorities to halt military and political pressure, including frequent air and naval operations near Taiwan.
The visit comes ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing next month, where Taiwan is expected to be a key issue alongside trade and broader geopolitical tensions. While some agreements may be reached in other areas, analysts expect little progress on the Taiwan question.
Cheng’s trip is the first by a KMT leader to China in about a decade and reflects the party’s long-standing support for engagement with Beijing as a way to reduce tensions. The KMT traces its origins to the Chinese nationalist government that relocated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the civil war to communist forces.
As the visit unfolds, it is being closely watched as a potential test of whether political dialogue can help ease tensions in one of the world’s most sensitive and strategically significant regions.
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