Taiwan opposition leader says talks with Xi a ‘bridge’ to peace

The leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party said Monday (March 23, 2026) she hoped to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and build a “bridge” to resolve disputes between China and the democratic island, which Beijing has threatened to seize by force.

Communist China has never ruled Taiwan, but Beijing insists the self-governed island of more than 23 million people is part of its territory, and uses military pressure to assert its sovereignty claim.

Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, who has been a strident critic of President Lai Ching-te’s government since taking up her role in November, has insisted on meeting Xi before she makes an official trip to the United States.

While the KMT has long supported closer ties with Beijing, Ms. Cheng has been accused by Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of doing Beijing’s bidding by stalling the government’s defence spending plans.

There are concerns inside the KMT that a Cheng-Xi meeting could trigger a voter backlash in Taiwan’s district elections later this year.

But speaking to foreign media on Monday, Ms. Cheng said talks with Mr. Xi would carry “signficant symbolic meaning” and could be a “foundation” to peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait.

“I do not believe a single meeting can resolve all the issues that have been accumulating for nearly a century,” Ms. Cheng said.

“But… I hope I can successfully build such a bridge.”

While Ms. Cheng has expressed confidence that a meeting with Mr. Xi will happen, there has been no confirmation from Beijing.

Ms. Cheng’s remarks came as Taiwan’s parliament began reviewing rival proposals for special defence spending that are aimed at boosting the island’s military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack.

Mr. Lai’s government has proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) in spending on critical defence purchases, including US arms, while the KMT wants to allocate NT$380 billion for U.S. weapons with the option for more acquisitions.

While the KMT supported having stronger defences, Ms. Cheng said more military spending alone would not achieve peace with China.

“There must also be political efforts. Political efforts are… the key,” Ms. Cheng said.

China severed high-level communications with Taiwan in 2016 after Mr. Lai’s predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, who also belongs to the Democratic Progressive Party, took power.

Chinese leaders detest Lai, who Beijing calls a “separatist”.

Ms. Cheng said her push for closer relations with China did not come at the expense of the United States, which is Taiwan’s biggest arms provider.

Lawmakers in Washington have been critical of Taiwan’s opposition parties for blocking the government’s defence spending bill.

“The KMT has long had very good relations with the United States, and improving our relations with the mainland (China) will not affect that,” Ms. Cheng said.

“We do not need to choose one or the other.”