Chiu Lien-hui's Meeting With US Officials Canceled; Scholar Cites Anti-US Rhetoric

The abrupt cancellation of a planned meeting between Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Chiu Lien-hui and U.S. National Security Council officials in Washington has sparked analysis regarding the reasons behind the U.S. decision. Taiwan University political science associate professor Chen Shih-min suggested that Chiu's past public statements, particularly her "suspicion of the U.S. theory" and her questioning of potential corruption in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, likely served as the immediate trigger for the cancellation.

Chen argued that Chiu's rhetoric often runs counter to the U.S. National Security Council's policy of strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities. He also noted that Chiu is not considered a figure with significant political prospects within the KMT, questioning why U.S. officials would feel compelled to meet with her. Chen indicated that Chiu likely would not have met with high-level U.S. officials anyway, with any potential meeting likely being with lower-level staff.

Chen further elaborated that U.S. officials are well aware of Chiu's public statements both in the U.S. and previously in Taiwan, which consistently lean towards a skeptical view of the U.S. He criticized Chiu's recent remarks in the U.S. opposing the defense special budget, claiming it would provide opportunities for corruption for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Chen pointed out that the $1.25 trillion defense special budget was determined after extensive discussions between the Taiwanese government and U.S. officials, and questioning it as a vehicle for DPP corruption indirectly criticizes the U.S. government involved in the arms deal.

Chen highlighted that former KMT officials, familiar with U.S. arms procurement processes, support the budget. He cited KMT legislator Chen Yung-kang, a former defense attaché in the U.S., who understands the highly institutionalized nature of military procurement and the low probability of corruption. Chiu's framing of the arms deal as an opportunity for DPP corruption is thus seen as an indirect insult to the U.S. officials handling the sales, making them unlikely to be pleased.

Beyond recent statements, Chen believes the U.S. has long been aware of Chiu's overall stance, citing her past remarks, such as her 2023 KMT chairmanship acceptance speech where she stated Taiwan should not become a pawn in great power geopolitics. Chen interpreted this as implying the U.S. might provoke a conflict with China using Taiwan as a tool to weaken China's rise. He suggested that the U.S. would have low expectations for someone holding such views. Chen concluded that Chiu's pursuit of peace, in his view, equates to surrender and assimilation into the People's Republic of China, similar to Hong Kong's situation, and that her rhetoric aligns with Beijing's stance, making her a mouthpiece for Xi Jinping's views.