Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun is on a rare visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, which she says is to promote cross-Strait “peace.”
“This visit to mainland China aims to show the world that it is not just Taiwan that hopes for peace unilaterally,” said Cheng, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), the largest opposition party.
“I believe that through this journey for peace, everyone is even more eager to see the sincerity and determination of the CPC Central Committee to use peaceful dialogue and exchanges to resolve all possible differences between the two sides,” he said, referring to the initials of the Communist Party of China.
“Maintaining peace means preserving Taiwan,” Cheng told a news conference at KMT headquarters in Taipei when asked about his priorities for the trip.
“Goodwill should be built and mutual trust should be expanded step by step by both sides.”
Cheng is on a six-day visit to China. He is expected to visit Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing where he is expected to meet Xi. Beijing has not commented on the possible meeting.
What makes Cheng’s China visit controversial?
This is the first time in a decade that a Taiwanese opposition leader is visiting China.
The KMT encourages close relations with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens to use force to seize it.
Critics have accused Cheng of being too supportive of China. In October, a congratulatory message came from Xi on his rise to the top of the KMT.
His visit to China comes ahead of the meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump in Beijing in May.
Cheng’s visit comes as the opposition-controlled parliament has blocked efforts by the Taiwan government to pass a special $40 billion defense budget.
The US is pressuring Taiwan’s opposition lawmakers to support a proposal for defense purchases, including American weapons, to deter a possible Chinese attack.
Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher