TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s opposition KMT reiterated China’s “national rejuvenation” message in Beijing this week as the legislature debates cutting the country’s defense budget, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday.
KMT Deputy Chair Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) led a delegation of 40 experts and party think tank officials to a three-day think tank exchange with the CCP from Monday to Wednesday. The visit coincided with efforts by the KMT and the TPP to cap defense spending at less than NT$411 billion (US$13 billion), far below President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) NT$1.26 trillion proposal.
Hsiao emphasized that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the Chinese nation. He said cooperation, rather than confrontation, could generate opportunities in global markets and prevent foreign powers from “hollowing out” Taiwan.
The forum included a meeting with Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning at the Great Hall of the People. Wang stressed unity across the strait, urging opposition to Taiwan independence and external interference, calling the forum a “complete success,” according to Chinese state media Xinhua.
The KMT delegation also highlighted past cross-strait achievements during KMT rule from 2008 to 2016. Hsiao cited 40,000 student exchanges, roughly 8 million tourist visits, and NT$5.39 trillion in trade, attributing these gains to dialogue under the so-called 1992 Consensus and rejection of Taiwan independence.
Hsiao, a longtime aide to former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), also criticized the US, saying cross-strait confrontation allowed foreign powers to profit at Taiwan’s expense. He suggested Taiwan should focus on economic cooperation with China instead.
The visit comes amid rising concerns over Taiwan’s defense budget. US senators, including Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker, criticized the opposition’s move to slash funding, warning that it could weaken Taiwan’s security and jeopardize US support.
The legislative impasse has also delayed deliberation on Taiwan’s 2026 general budget and prompted impeachment proceedings against Lai. Opposition lawmakers argue they are exercising oversight and refuse to approve “blank checks” for defense spending.
Lai’s administration recently reached a deal with the US to reduce tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, securing major semiconductor investments in return. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) stressed that the opposition must prioritize national security over partisan politics, particularly given ongoing Chinese military pressure.
The KMT’s new chair, Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文), appears eager to meet Xi Jinping. She has previously emphasized that dialogue with Beijing could prevent conflict and destruction, and that any engagement must maintain peace.
China refused direct engagement with Lai’s DPP, leaving the KMT as the primary channel for party-to-party talks. Beijing has supported and platformed KMT politicians, reinforcing its influence amid Taiwan’s political divide.
Observers note that the forum occurs at a sensitive time, with Taiwan’s defense spending and legislative gridlock drawing international attention. Analysts warn that prolonged political disputes could affect foreign confidence in Taiwan’s security and economic stability.
