U.S. National Security Council Abruptly Cancels Meeting with KMT Chairwoman Chang

A planned meeting between Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Sylvia Chang and U.S. National Security Council officials in Washington D.C. was unexpectedly canceled at the last minute. The meeting, initially set to take place at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) headquarters, was called off without a stated reason, according to members of the KMT delegation.

Sources in Washington's foreign media circles suggest the cancellation stems from Chang's recent public statements. During her U.S. visit, Chang had characterized military sales to Taiwan and security cooperation within the "first island chain" as "Cold War thinking." She also accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of "corruption" regarding a special budget for military purchases.

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Cold War thinking

These remarks reportedly caused surprise and dissatisfaction among U.S. government officials. The U.S. security and military systems are said to be particularly displeased, viewing Chang's comments as an indirect criticism of their own involvement and a potential insult. The U.S. side perceived her statements as prioritizing domestic political disputes over national security concerns, drawing parallels with rhetoric from Beijing.

The cancellation is particularly notable given past precedents. High-ranking Taiwanese officials, including mayors and party leaders, have typically met with senior directors at the White House's National Security Council during visits to Washington. Even a downgraded meeting at AIT was arranged for figures like Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang. Chang's canceled meeting, even at a reduced level, signifies a potential cooling of relations or a strong disapproval from the U.S. side.

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corruption