Cheng Li-wun, KMT chair since Nov 2025, tops Taiwan tensions flashpoint as cross-strait standoff shifts. Taiwanese lawyer-politician (b. 1969).
Taiwan and China are escalating posturing ahead of a high-stakes summit, with Beijing expanding measures toward Taiwan and Washington reaffirming deterrence and dialogue. The U.S. remains Taiwan’s key arms backer while European and Czech ties intensify scrutiny of dual-use exports amid sanctions.
Cheng, chairwoman of Taiwan’s Kuomintang, has embarked on a two-week trip to the United States following an April meeting with Xi Jinping in China. She has stated openness to meetings with key U.S. figures and emphasized a goal of peace, while noting no Taiwanese leader has met a sitting U.S. president since 1979.
Taiwan reports an uptick in Chinese espionage and launches a secure information channel for Chinese nationals to share information. Beijing and Taipei are sharpening their security and messaging amid ongoing cross-strait strains, with US interests and Taiwan defense plans under scrutiny.