By AFP and Focus | 2026-03-25

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party March 23 said 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 says 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 has insisted on meeting Xi before she makes an official trip to the United States.

Cheng made the remarks on March 23 while speaking to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents' Club. Her party has been subject to "misunderstanding and prejudice" regarding its positions, she said.

President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accuses Cheng of doing Beijing's bidding by stalling the Taiwanese government's defense spending plans.

Fears of a voter backlash

Concerns are forming 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 March 23, Cheng said talks with Xi would carry "significant symbolic meaning" and could be a "foundation" to peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait.

"I hope I can successfully build such a bridge."

While Cheng has expressed confidence that a meeting with Xi will happen, Beijing has given no confirmation.

Rival proposals on defense spending

Cheng's remarks came as Taiwan's parliament began reviewing rival proposals for special defense spending aimed at boosting the island's military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack.

Lai's government has proposed 1.25 trillion TWD ($39 billion) in spending on critical defense purchases, including US arms, while the KMT wants to allocate 380 billion TWD ($11.9 billion) for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions.

More military spending alone will not achieve peace with China, Cheng said.

"There must also be political efforts. Political efforts are ... the key," Cheng said.

Divided government

Currently, the KMT and the Taiwan People's Party, its junior ally, command a majority in the Legislative Yuan, providing them with significant leverage to obstruct government initiatives and push their own legislative agenda.

China severed high-level communications with Taiwan in 2016 after Lai's predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, who also belongs to the DPP, took power. Chinese leaders detest Lai and call him a "separatist."

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.

"The KMT has long had very good relations with the United States, and improving our relations with the mainland [China] will not affect that," Cheng said.

As the November local elections approach, the three major political parties are gearing up for a contest widely seen as a crucial barometer of public sentiment before the 2028 presidential race.