Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun starts US visit

The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party has embarked on a two-week visit to the United States, seeking to position her party as a stabilizing force amid heightened cross-strait tensions and a pause in U.S. arms sales to the island. Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), departed for the trip following her meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing two months ago, the first such meeting in a decade.

Cheng stated her openness to meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during her visit, describing him as one of the world's most important decision-makers. She emphasized that dialogue with both Beijing and Washington is essential for reducing the risk of conflict. Her tour comes as President Trump is no longer expected to speak with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te before a potential fall visit to the U.S. by Xi Jinping, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. No sitting U.S. president has spoken directly with a Taiwanese leader since 1979 due to diplomatic sensitivities with China.

The visit occurs against a backdrop of paused U.S. military assistance. A proposed $14 billion arms package to Taiwan has been put on hold. While officials...