Distrust of Trump, fear of China propel new political force in Taiwan
The Kuomintang party’s new leader, Cheng Li-wun, is pushing much closer ties with China, reflecting growing fears Washington would not help in a war over Taiwan.
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Just after announcing a plan to buy billions of dollars’ worth of American weapons, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te dined with the top American diplomat in Taipei last week and toasted to U.S.-Taiwan “friendship, cooperation and a stronger more prosperous world.”
Meanwhile, the new leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, Cheng Li-wun, was on a very different type of charm offensive.
Since her surprise ascension to head of the Kuomintang (KMT) in October, Cheng has said she is willing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, encouraged Taiwanese people to think of themselves as Chinese, and slammed the new defense budget plan. She’s already having some success, with the KMT blocking the defense bill at its first hurdle.
The split screen between the two politicians reveals an increasingly sharp division in Taiwan: As Lai’s ruling party attempts to secure the Trump administration’s backing in the face of increasing Chinese military threats, politicians such as Cheng are promoting stronger ties with Beijing amid growing concern that Lai is inviting conflict and deepening skepticism about whether Taiwan can count on the United States to support it.
