TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said her visit to the US had to deal with pressure from individuals who urged US lawmakers not to meet her, but the results were better than expected, CNA reported Thursday.
Speaking at a banquet for overseas Taiwanese in Washington, Cheng said that many of the meetings during the trip were private. She said more than one US lawmaker told her they had been urged not to meet her, but she still met nine members of Congress in two days.
Cheng said the meetings showed that US political figures were willing to speak with her. She also said academics, former officials, and policy experts attended her talks on Taiwan-US relations and cross-strait issues, Mirror Media reported.
Cheng said many participants wanted to discuss cross-strait relations and her earlier meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. She said peace in the Taiwan Strait was important to Taiwan, the region, and the US, and accused the DPP government of pushing cross-strait ties toward conflict.
Cheng said the KMT’s policies must first be tested by public opinion. She said if the party wins future elections, it would seek official exchanges with China and try to reduce tensions.
Cheng also rejected claims that she had angered the US by opposing arms purchases. She said she was critical of the DPP’s handling of defense spending, not Taiwan’s need to strengthen security.
DPP US office head Hsiao Shun-wen (蕭舜文) criticized Cheng’s remarks, saying Beijing has long blamed Taiwan to justify actions that damage regional security. He said it was a shame that the chair of Taiwan’s opposition party had made comments that were the same as Beijing’s position.
Hsiao said Taiwan is not the source of threats. He said the US and countries along the First Island Chain are strengthening defense because of China’s growing military pressure.
