Taiwan tensions
Cheng Li-wun criticized over U.S. engagements despite continued scrutiny over cross-strait policy gaps
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s largest opposition party, speaks to reporters after meeting with U.S. lawmakers and think tanks in Washington on June 12. © Reuters
By visiting Washington and engaging with U.S. officials, the KMT’s top leader has sought to strengthen Taiwan’s position as a rising power and demonstrate the resolve of the opposition toward a more dynamic role in international affairs. However, ongoing questions persist over whether her strategic alignment with U.S. strategists would lead to meaningful change in high-level policies concerning the island’s security and defense commitments.