Leader of Taiwan’s KMT Cheng Li-wun talks Beijing relations in Washington
KMT chairwoman said her US visit went ‘beyond expectations’, but concerns about her position on some issues may persist, an expert says
4-MIN READ4-MIN Listen
Yuanyue Dangin WashingtonPublished: 4:59am, 17 Jun 2026Updated: 7:51am, 17 Jun 2026The two-week US trip by Taiwan’s main opposition leader offered Washington a different take on cross-Strait relations, although whether it will change anything remains in question, some experts said.
Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun landed back in Taipei early on Tuesday, concluding a five-stop visit she called “beyond expectations”.
Cheng began her trip on June 1, visiting San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington and Los Angeles.Advertisement
She met with representatives from several think tanks and universities, and in each city met with Chinatown communities and attended dinners for Taiwanese Americans.
The 56-year-old party official also held closed-door meetings in Washington with several influential senators and representatives, including Senate Armed Services Committee member Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska; House Foreign Affairs Committee member Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California; and East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chair Young Kim, a Republican also from California.
Advertisement
Cheng also met with Republican Senator Steve Daines from Montana, who is widely seen as an ally of US President Donald Trump.
02:55Peace is a ‘common wish’: Taiwan opposition leader meets Xi Jinping in Beijing in rare visitAdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed00:0000:001.00x