Taiwan Opposition Leader Cheng Says She Would Meet Trump on 2-Week U.S. Trip
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
Taiwan Opposition Leader Cheng Says She Would Meet Trump on 2-Week U.S. Trip
11 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
Cheng Li-wun said she would be "very willing" to meet Donald Trump during a two-week U.S. trip starting Monday, an encounter no Taiwanese leader has had with a sitting U.S. president since 1979.
The Kuomintang chair said she is willing to meet any leader "conducive to peace," framing Trump the same way she framed her April meeting with China's Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Cheng said her U.S. itinerary includes Washington and meetings with lawmakers and officials, though she declined to identify them; the White House did not immediately comment.
Her outreach comes as Beijing still rejects talks with President Lai Ching-te, while Cheng argues Taiwan's security needs both stronger defenses and dialogue with China to reduce war risks.
That stance has drawn scrutiny because the KMT-led opposition bloc, despite backing defense spending in principle, cut by one-third a planned extra $40 billion arms package that Washington supported.
Taiwan's opposition is cutting defense funds. Is its bet on dialogue with Beijing a path to peace or a dangerous gamble?
As the US builds its own chip factories, is Taiwan’s famed 'Silicon Shield' becoming a bargaining chip for President Trump?
Taiwan at a Crossroads: Cheng Li-wun’s 2026 US and China Engagements and the Future of Cross-Strait Policy
Overview
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s two-week diplomatic visit to the United States in June 2026 marks a pivotal moment in US-Taiwan relations. Her comprehensive itinerary covers major American cities and highlights the importance of her engagements across various sectors. The trip is a major diplomatic and political event, with significant implications for regional stability and bilateral ties. Cheng’s main goal is to promote the normalization of cross-strait peace, reflecting a strategic effort to address both regional and global challenges. This visit underscores the evolving dynamics and high stakes in the US-Taiwan relationship.