The chairwoman of Taiwan’s primary opposition party emphasized Wednesday that global tensions make it crucial to avoid a Taiwan crisis, as she prepares for a six-day visit to China beginning Tuesday.
Kuomintang (KMT) leader Cheng Li-wun will travel to China at Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation, focusing on what she calls efforts toward reconciliation.
Beijing considers Taiwan, which operates as a democracy, part of Chinese territory and has increased military and political pressure on President Lai Ching-te’s administration. Chinese officials label Lai a “separatist,” while he maintains that Taiwan’s citizens alone should determine their island’s destiny.
During her party’s weekly gathering in Taipei, Cheng emphasized that Taiwan’s residents don’t want their home to become a global conflict zone.
“What we are promoting is peace and reconciliation, including reconciliation between the ruling and opposition parties within Taiwan, and reconciliation and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” she said.
“No one wants to see the Taiwan Strait once again fall into a tense military crisis at a time when the international situation is already turbulent.”
Her visit occurs as Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature blocks a $40 billion defense spending package backed by the U.S. The KMT maintains it supports military funding but opposes what it calls “blank cheques.”
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles China policy, stated this week that Beijing’s goal to “annex” the island won’t change simply because of political party interactions or individual meetings.
In Beijing Wednesday, Zhang Han from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declined to provide additional details about Cheng’s planned stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province.
Zhang described the visit as demonstrating both the Communist Party and KMT’s commitment to “seek peace.”
Following last month’s Middle East conflict outbreak, China has intensified efforts to convince Taiwan of the advantages of Beijing’s rule, highlighting energy security and proposing a “rapid transit link” connecting both sides.
“Peaceful reunification will create enormous opportunities for Taiwan’s economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots — this is its greatest appeal,” Zhang stated during a press briefing.
Polling data consistently shows Taiwan residents have little interest in accepting Beijing’s authority through its “one country, two systems” framework.
Chinese leadership has never ruled out military action to bring Taiwan under its authority.
