TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene met with KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) on Wednesday to discuss US–Taiwan relations and cross-strait issues.

Following the meeting, Cheng said she and Greene discussed regional peace, stability, and communication between Taiwan and the US, per UP Media. She emphasized that “only through dialogue and mutual trust can regional peace be maintained,” and reiterated the KMT’s commitment to constructive US–Taiwan engagement.

Greene said the US does not seek confrontation or conflict across the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing that all differences should be resolved peacefully and without coercion. Cheng echoed Greene’s view, saying that cross-strait peace is essential not only to the region but also to global stability. She added that any change to the status quo must have the consent of people on both sides of the strait.

Before the meeting, speculation circulated that Greene’s visit aimed to gauge the KMT’s position on Taiwan’s defense budget, per UDN. The government is preparing the 2026 central budget and drafting a NT$1.3 trillion (US$41.8 billion) special budget for military procurement, per UP Media.

DPP legislative caucus director Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) speculated before the meeting that Greene’s visit aimed to gauge the KMT’s stance on the defense budget, per ETtoday. He said that the US is likely concerned about Taiwan’s plan to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030. The target, if achieved, would amount to nearly half of the government’s total budget.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) defended the special budget proposal, saying Taiwan must strengthen its self-defense capabilities to deter aggression, per NOWnews.

Meanwhile, DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) suggested that Greene’s meeting with Cheng may have been prompted by concerns about her “pro-unification” stance, urging the KMT not to become “an obstacle to Taiwan–US relations, national defense, or Indo-Pacific peace,” per FTV.