The leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), is set to visit China in April after receiving an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip will take place about a month before a planned visit to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump.
KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, who was elected in October, confirmed she has accepted the invitation. Her upcoming visit signals a potential shift toward closer ties with Beijing compared to her predecessor, Eric Chu, who did not travel to China during his tenure.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has refused to engage with the current government led by President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist.” However, Beijing has continued to maintain communication with opposition figures from the KMT.
Speaking in Taipei, Cheng said the visit—scheduled from April 7 to 12—aims to promote peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, she will travel to Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu province.
“We hope April’s visit marks the beginning of a new spring for cross-strait relations,” Cheng said, adding that the trip would focus on building trust and easing tensions.
Meanwhile, Hsu Kuo-yung of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party urged Cheng to assert Taiwan’s sovereignty during her meetings. He emphasized that Taiwan elects its own leaders and called on her to convey that message clearly to Beijing.
The visit comes as Taiwan’s government seeks approval for an additional $40 billion in defense spending amid rising tensions with China. While the KMT has expressed support for strengthening defense, it has also demanded greater transparency before backing the proposal.
Trump’s expected trip to China in mid-May—though not yet officially confirmed by Beijing—adds further geopolitical significance to Cheng’s visit.
The political divide between China and Taiwan dates back to 1949, when the defeated Republic of China government, led by the KMT, retreated to Taiwan after losing a civil war to communist forces under Mao Zedong. Since then, no formal peace agreement has been signed, and both sides continue to dispute each other’s legitimacy.
A rare high-level meeting between leaders from both sides took place in 2015, when former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou met Xi Jinping in Singapore.