KMT Chairwoman to Visit China as Cross-Strait Diplomacy Intensifies

KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun accepts Xi Jinping's invitation for an April visit to China, signaling a pivot toward Beijing ahead of President Trump’s scheduled summit.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 30, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

A Strategic Pivot in KMT Leadership

Elected as KMT chairwoman in October 2025, former lawmaker Cheng Li-wun has signaled a significantly more pro-engagement stance toward Beijing than her predecessor. Her upcoming trip, scheduled for April 7 to 12, will include stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province. Notably, both Chinese state media and the KMT have referred to Xi Jinping by his title as General Secretary of the Communist Party for this visit, emphasizing the party-to-party nature of the exchange rather than a formal state-to-state encounter.

Counter-Programming the Trump Summit

The timing of Cheng’s visit is diplomatically sensitive, occurring roughly one month before President Donald Trump is due in Beijing for a summit originally postponed due to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. By welcoming the KMT leader first, Beijing appears to be reinforcing its preference for dealing with Taiwan’s opposition rather than the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This "opposition-first" strategy allows China to bypass President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a "separatist," while still exerting influence over Taiwanese domestic policy.

Domestic Conflict Over Defense Spending

The announcement comes as President Lai’s administration faces intense pressure to pass a massive $40 billion supplemental defense budget. While the KMT officially supports strengthening Taiwan’s military, it has utilized its parliamentary majority to block what it calls "blank checks," demanding more granular details on the spending. Cheng’s visit to China provides her with a platform to promote "peaceful development" and "cross-strait exchanges" as an alternative to the military-first approach championed by the DPP and supported by the Trump administration.