KMT chair says military drills normal amid regional tensions

Los Angeles, June 14 (CNA) Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) said Sunday that military activities in the Indo-Pacific are "very normal" given the region's complex security environment, as she weighed in on the upcoming U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.

Speaking at a Los Angeles press conference, Cheng commented on the biennial drills, which are set to kick off June 24 in Hawaii with more than 30 participating nations.

"Given the region's complex security environment, it is very normal for such military drills to continue," she said when asked by CNA for her views on the exercises.

The U.S. and China conduct regular military activities in the region, she said, adding that achieving lasting peace will ultimately require addressing such issues directly.

However, as an opposition party, the KMT will refrain from taking formal positions on military policy until it returns to power, Cheng said.

A KMT-led government would establish mutual trust mechanisms to reduce such activities in the Taiwan Strait, she added.

Cheng made the remarks while concluding a 16-day tour of San Francisco, Boston, New York, Washington, and Los Angeles -- branded "A Journey of U.S.-China-Taiwan Peace and Prosperity" -- during which she promoted Taiwan as a potential bridge between Washington and Beijing.

Summarizing the trip, Cheng cited her April meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), which resumed party-to-party exchanges between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC).

During the U.S. visit, she has emphasized a peace-oriented approach and said that President Donald Trump likewise does not wish to see Taiwan move toward independence or see American forces drawn into conflict over pro-independence positions.

However, she stressed that sustainable cross-strait stability will be difficult without continued strong U.S. leadership in the region.

In a speech to the local overseas Taiwanese community, Cheng argued that the "first island chain" concept reflects outdated Cold War thinking and should be recast as a "chain of peace and prosperity."

She contended that U.S. leadership in regional technology, talent and market exchanges could generate a "peace dividend."

Cheng also underscored her anti-war message with a pointed line: "Drones should be used to deliver bubble tea, not missiles."

On defense policy, Cheng said the KMT's support for national defense will not change, adding that what Taiwan needs is an effective military capable of defending the country.

She emphasized that pursuing cross-strait dialogue would not come at the expense of Taiwan's democracy, freedom or defense resilience.