During Kuomintang (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun’s visit to Washington, D.C., local media reported that a planned meeting with U.S. National Security Council (NSC) officials was first downgraded and later canceled without a public explanation. According to the reports, Cheng’s delegation had initially been expected to meet NSC officials at the White House on June 10. The meeting was later moved to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) headquarters in Washington and downgraded to a lower-level NSC representative before being canceled altogether.
Washington observers suggested the cancellations may have been linked to Cheng’s recent remarks criticizing U.S.-Taiwan arms sales and describing First Island Chain security cooperation as a “Cold War mentality.” Some analysts argued that such comments raised concerns among U.S. officials because they echoed narratives frequently promoted by Beijing. The KMT has also questioned the proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget and raised allegations of corruptions in U.S. proposed arms sales.
The reported cancellations drew attention because, under past practice, visiting Taiwanese political leaders have often met with senior NSC officials and AIT representatives during trips to Washington.
Source: Liberty Times (Taiwan), June 11, 2026
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/5468674