Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday for a six-day visit to China, marking the first trip by a major Taiwanese party head in a decade. Cheng framed the visit as a 'peace mission' aimed at reducing tensions across the Taiwan Strait, where relations have deteriorated since 2016. China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office called the visit a 'significant' step toward stability, while Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) criticized the trip, warning it could undermine sovereignty.
Cheng emphasized dialogue as essential to preventing conflict, stating, 'Preserving peace is preserving Taiwan.' She also expressed hope for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping before visiting the U.S. Meanwhile, the DPP raised concerns about unmonitored exchanges with Beijing, with lawmakers questioning whether Cheng would accept any political premises from China.
Public reactions in Taiwan were mixed. Some residents, like businessman Wen Wen-fu, opposed the visit, citing the KMT's pro-China stance, while others, such as Lee Jen-hsing, welcomed it as a step toward closer ties. The trip follows increased Chinese military drills near Taiwan and U.S. pressure on Taipei to boost defense spending.