Advertisement
Cheng Li-wun talks Trump, Taiwan and a future leadership run
KMT chief calls Trump’s anti-independence remarks a ‘positive step’, says her party’s return to power is the only path to peace
4-MIN READ4-MIN
8
Listen
Yuanyue Dangin New York
Taiwan’s main opposition leader hailed US President Donald Trump’s recent comments opposing the island’s independence as a “relatively positive first step” towards reducing tensions.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), told the South China Morning Post on Sunday in an exclusive interview: “The ‘one China’ principle and opposition to Taiwan independence have always been the Kuomintang’s stance.
“On this political basis, the status quo across the Taiwan Strait can be maintained, and the likelihood of war can be minimised.”
Advertisement
Cheng, who is currently visiting the United States, said Washington’s stance was “crucial” in her aspiration to transform the “first island chain” into a “chain of peace and prosperity”.
Cheng’s trip to the US came just over two weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Trump in Beijing and warned his American counterpart that any mishandling of the Taiwan issue could lead to a “very dangerous situation”.
Trump said after the Beijing summit that he was not looking to have “someone go independent”, adding: “You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles [15,300 km] to fight a war. I’m not looking for that.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x