KMT chair seeks direct communication channel with U.S. on defense issues

Washington, June 12 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said on Friday that her party hopes to establish a direct channel of communication with the United States on defense-related issues.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Cheng said the KMT supports strengthening Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and is reviewing whether to put forward its own version of policies aimed at boosting the local defense sector.

Many people are concerned about the development of Taiwan's domestic defense industry, particularly drone manufacturing, Cheng said, adding that the KMT supports the principle of defense self-reliance.

However, she said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) proposals contain problems that the KMT cannot support, prompting suggestions from policy experts that the opposition party formulate its own plan.

Cheng said the KMT would study the issue seriously after she returns to Taiwan.

She also said she had expressed hope during her U.S. visit for more opportunities to communicate and exchange views directly with U.S. officials.

Cheng made the remarks after meetings in Washington with U.S. lawmakers and policy experts, and before meeting with representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan's Washington office.

During her visit, she met with several members of Congress, including Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Republican House Representatives Don Bacon, Young Kim, and Brian Mast, as well as Democrat House Representative Thomas Suozzi.

Cheng said most of the lawmakers she met were supportive of Taiwan and showed strong interest in its defense policies.

She told them that pursuing stable and peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait does not mean sacrificing Taiwan's partnership with the United States, adding that security cooperation and friendship with Washington remain vital to the Republic of China.

Asked by reporters about China's increasing gray-zone activities against Taiwan, including a recent incursion by a Chinese official vessel into prohibited waters near Taiping Island, Cheng said such incidents underscored the need for dialogue across the Taiwan Strait, particularly on sensitive military and security issues.

Separately, Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund, said it had been helpful hearing Cheng explain her vision for cross-strait relations in detail during a meeting at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In an email to CNA, Glaser said Cheng's visit had given many people in Washington a better understanding of her views.