Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng arrives in China on a journey of peace, to meet Xi
A delegation of the pro-Beijing Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led by its leader Cheng Li-wun, arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday on a six-day visit during which it is likely to meet President Xi Jinping to discuss easing of cross-strait tensions.
Cheng’s visit to China, being closely watched around the world, marks the first trip by a KMT leader in a decade. The focus of her visit was expected to be a meeting with Xi, who, since he assumed power in 2012, stepped up efforts to “re-unify” Taiwan, strictly enforcing its One-China policy, according to high military and diplomatic priority to it.
China claims Taiwan as part of it and pledges to reunite it with the mainland. China calls Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) separatists and tacitly backs the pro-Beijing KMT as it advocates close ties with the mainland.
DPP firmly opposes China’s attempts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland and advocates for the breakaway island to retain its identity. Speaking ahead of her departure to Beijing, Cheng called the visit a “journey of peace” and said both sides of the Taiwan Strait should seek dialogue and communication to resolve their differences. “It is undeniable that the current international environment is volatile, with conflict spreading and public anxiety rising,” she said.
“The Taiwan Strait has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous places, so we must ensure that ‘if the strait is safe, the world is safe’.”
Cheng’s visit is regarded as significant as it comes ahead of Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing on May 14-15, during which Taiwan is expected to figure prominently in his talks with Xi.
