A plan by the chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party to visit Beijing – where she hopes to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping – early this year carries hopes of improving communication amid high tension between the two sides of the strait.
Cheng, who was elected chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT) in October, has repeatedly said she hoped to visit Beijing and secure a face-to-face meeting with Xi.
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People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
People’s Liberation Army holds second day of live-fire exercises around Taiwan
In a radio interview on December 28, she said she aimed to make the trip in early 2026, without specifying a month. KMT vice-chairman Lee Chien-lung, however, told reporters the visit would most likely take place in March.
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Cheng, who said she would also visit the United States following the mainland trip, said the first half of this year was her only realistic window for travel.
With Taiwan’s local elections scheduled for the second half of the year, she said her role as party chair would require devotion to campaigning and party coordination, leaving no room for travel.
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“Once the election season begins, the party chair has no choice but to stay on the front line,” Cheng said, adding that any overseas visits must be completed beforehand.
Under her current plan, a visit to Beijing would come first. Cheng said a face-to-face meeting with Xi would carry “major strategic significance” by sending a clear signal about the future direction of cross-strait relations.
