Taiwan opposition leader sees Trump's anti-independence stance as positive

Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has described U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to Taiwan's formal independence as a "relatively positive" step toward de-escalating tensions with Beijing.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Cheng stated that the KMT has always opposed independence, a stance she believes can maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and "minimize" the possibility of war. Visiting the United States, Cheng also highlighted Washington's crucial role in transforming the strategic "first island chain" into a "chain of peace and prosperity." She is scheduled to meet with U.S. lawmakers, officials, and academics in Washington.

Cheng interpreted Trump's post-summit remarks with Chinese President Xi Jinping – that he does not seek anyone's independence and wants to avoid a Taiwan war – as a "clear and effective" message that the U.S. president aims to prevent Taiwanese independence from becoming a conflict trigger. She criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) for escalating tensions in the strait.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Cheng also called for Taiwan not to be treated as a "pawn" by Washington and Beijing, warning against it becoming a bargaining chip between major powers. She stressed that a decade of absent dialogue has created "enormous tensions" and reiterated that Washington's role is "indispensable" for regional peace. Cheng's U.S. visit follows her trip to China, where she met with Xi Jinping, the first KMT leader to do so in nearly a decade.

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For whom someone is a beloved president, for someone else a loud name. For me - my beloved, sensitive dad.