Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) has taken steps that appear to distance itself from the United States while engaging more closely with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), highlighted by its Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland China from April 7 to 12.
Despite criticism surrounding the trip, Cheng arrived in Shanghai on April 7 and later met CCP leader Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 10. During the meeting, she stated that the Taiwan Strait “should not become a stage for external intervention,” a remark that has drawn attention amid ongoing U.S.–Taiwan engagement and internal political divisions within Taiwan.
At the same time, KMT legislators have been seen as moving away from U.S.-backed defense initiatives. They have delayed the passage of a special defense budget bill intended to support U.S. arms purchases. On April 7, U.S. Representative Nunn led a Republican Study Committee national security delegation to Taiwan, followed by a meeting on April 8 with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)), during which U.S. Senator Banks urged Taiwan’s legislature to pass the bill. However, when cross-party consultations to discuss the special bill were scheduled in the Legislative Yuan on April 9, KMT lawmakers were absent, leaving only six DPP legislators and one Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) member present, causing the meeting to collapse due to lack of quorum. Some KMT legislators had also arranged travel plans, further delaying deliberations.
However, the KMT’s outreach did not appear to yield reciprocal recognition from Beijing. During the Xi–Cheng meeting, Xi spoke first, followed by Cheng. Before Cheng had completed even one-third of her remarks, Taiwanese reporters and photographers were asked to leave, the live broadcast was cut, and the remainder of the meeting proceeded behind closed doors.
Later that day, Cheng described the talks as “very successful” at a press conference, stating that Xi had responded positively and indicated that “everything can be discussed.” She also claimed that her proposals—including Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) and accession to trade frameworks such as the CPTPP—would be “fully and actively studied and facilitated” by Beijing. However, when asked for specifics or any written agreement, Cheng said she had only taken personal notes and referred reporters to official coverage by Xinhua News Agency. Interestingly, subsequent Xinhua reports did not mention any of the proposals or commitments she described.
Source: Aboluo, April 12, 2026
https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0412/2371227.html