Washington: Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun engaged in discussions with U.S. lawmakers and policy experts regarding Taiwan’s security, defense policy, and cross-strait relations during a series of meetings in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

According to Focus Taiwan, KMT Representative to the U.S. Victor Chin, Cheng met with several key U.S. lawmakers, including Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican Representative Don Bacon from the House Armed Services Committee, and Republican Representative Young Kim, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. Cheng expressed gratitude for the support shown by U.S. lawmakers towards Taiwan.

Chin highlighted that the discussions covered a range of topics, including Taiwan’s defense spending, military readiness, arms procurement, and the increasing military pressure from China. Sullivan showed interest in Taiwan’s defense budget and preparedness. Cheng reiterated the KMT’s stance that comprehensive information from both Washington and Taipei is essential for lawmakers to evaluate defense procurement programs effectively.

In her meeting with Kim, Cheng discussed Taiwan’s special defense budget and her recent visit to China. Cheng also engaged with experts at the Stimson Center in Washington, where she shared her insights on cross-strait relations, Taiwan’s security, and U.S.-Taiwan ties during a closed-door meeting.

Chin noted that attendees were particularly interested in Cheng’s recent trip to China and her perspective on fostering lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait. Riley Walters, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute who attended the meeting, observed that Cheng is keen on playing a significant role in cross-strait relations and the broader Washington-Taipei-Beijing dynamic.

Cheng’s meetings in Washington were part of her two-week U.S. trip, which began on June 1. Her itinerary includes meetings with lawmakers, government officials, scholars, and members of the Taiwanese diaspora.

Separately, the KMT issued a press release from Taipei stating that Cheng discussed cross-strait relations and defense policy in an interview with U.S. public broadcaster NPR. According to the party, Cheng mentioned that she did not discuss unification during her recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasizing that the KMT’s focus is on restoring dialogue and negotiations across the Taiwan Strait.

Cheng highlighted the suspension of communication mechanisms between Taipei and Beijing over the past decade, attributing it to rising tensions. She stressed that resuming dialogue is crucial to reducing risks and maintaining stability. Since the Democratic Progressive Party assumed power in 2016, military and political tensions have heightened, with China escalating military activities around Taiwan and Taiwan enhancing defense efforts and security partnerships with the U.S. and other allies.