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Two House Republicans to meet with the leader of Taiwan’s Beijing-friendly opposition party

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., are meeting with Cheng Li-wun, leader of the Kuomingtang Party, this week in Washington.
Cheng advocates for peaceful reunification of Taiwan with Beijing, while Rep. Kim intends to "seek greater clarity on the substance of those discussions" regarding Cheng's April meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Ellie Gilchrist, the lawmaker's spokesperson.
Taiwan's opposition-controlled legislature passed a $25 billion special defense budget last month, and Rep. Kim plans to encourage the Kuomingtang Party to support more spending as an "important demonstration of Taiwan's commitment to self-defense and deterrence."
Administration officials expressed disappointment that Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's arms request was reduced, as President Donald Trump considers a $14 billion arms sale for Taipei.
"I'll always talk to him," Trump told reporters on Air Force One last Friday regarding a potential call with Lai, a prospect coinciding with ongoing scrutiny of the administration's posture toward Taiwan.

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