TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) defended her claim Wednesday (June 17) that American lawmakers see China showing a "softer side" toward Taiwan — an assertion the government had already called disconnected from reality.
Cheng first made the assertion during a speech in Los Angeles on June 15, saying "many American congressional friends" told her the United States has observed Beijing softening its approach toward the island. She said she met 10 members of Congress during the two-week trip but did not name any of them.
The Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會), Taiwan's top government body handling China policy, pushed back Wednesday morning before Cheng's press conference. Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said her characterization "has a significant gap from the facts."
Chiu pointed to continued People's Liberation Army (解放軍) ship and plane movements near Taiwan and Beijing's ongoing diplomatic pressure. He said these demonstrated that China has not softened its stance toward Taiwan.
At KMT headquarters Wednesday, Cheng offered her first public account since landing. She dismissed reports that her Washington visits had been downgraded or canceled as "completely baseless," saying all meetings were "completed as originally scheduled."
"This is party diplomacy, not government diplomacy," Cheng said. "I don't need to publicly disclose my itinerary."
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party also criticized the trip. DPP legislative caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said U.S. political figures told him the KMT "used deceptive tactics to trick the U.S. Congress," though he did not identify his sources or provide evidence.
Cheng said her trip was aimed at reassuring Washington. "Taiwan does not want to become the next Ukraine," she said, adding that most Taiwanese do not want military conflict across the Taiwan Strait.
Cheng invoked public interest to justify sharing her assessment of American views. "The Taiwanese people have the right to know how the U.S. views the development of cross-strait relations," she said.
Cheng also sent a message to the KMT's Central Standing Committee, telling members that the party's outreach efforts were "absolutely correct." She urged unity ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) is scheduled to depart for the United States on Saturday (June 21). Cheng said she hoped Han's visit would be "successful" and that he would receive "high-level treatment" from American officials. ◼