Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen will lead a delegation to China from April 7 to April 12, 2026, following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, which includes stops in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Beijing, represents the first time the leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party has visited China in a decade.
The invitation was announced on March 30 by Song Tao, the director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CCP Central Committee. Cheng, who assumed her leadership role in November 2025, stated that she gladly accepted
the invitation to lead the delegation.
Political Timing and Strategic Intent
The timing of the visit, scheduled to occur after the Qingming holiday, has drawn scrutiny from national security officials. A Taiwanese national security official stated on March 31 that the arrangement carries high political intent
and could send dangerous signals
to international allies, potentially impacting Taiwan’s position within the democratic bloc.
The visit is scheduled to take place approximately one month before a meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, which has been postponed to mid-May due to developments in the Middle East. According to the national security official, Beijing aims to project an image of complete control over Taiwan before the Trump-Xi summit.
The official further explained that Beijing intends to signal that Taiwanese public opinion leans toward China
and toward reunification
during the visit. The move is viewed as a message to the United States to stop, or at least reduce, arms sales to Taiwan
.
Domestic Tensions and Military Budget
The visit coincides with period of heightened tension and significant domestic debate in Taiwan. Discussions are currently underway regarding a special military procurement budget totaling NT$1.25 trillion. The diplomatic engagement comes amid frequent activities by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) near Taiwan.
KMT member Kuo Ya-hui commented on the upcoming visit, stating that she hopes national interests are prioritized and that the general budget is reviewed first.
Preparations and Consultations
Prior to her departure, Cheng Li-wen met with Wu Po-hsiung to seek advice on the trip. During this consultation, Wu emphasized the necessity of the mission, telling Cheng that she must succeed
and stressing that cross-strait [conflict] must not happen
.
The upcoming meeting between Cheng and Xi has also generated public interest in Taiwan. A poll of 46,000 netizens indicated that nearly half of the respondents hold specific expectations regarding the outcome of the meeting.
International and Government Reactions
The visit has prompted responses from both U.S. And Taiwanese government entities. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, while visiting Taiwan, noted that if the Chinese Communist Party intends to engage with one political party, it should engage with all parties
.
Taiwan’s President’s Office has issued a call to political figures engaging in exchanges with China, urging them to reflect the mainstream public opinion
of Taiwan during their interactions.