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After Trump-Xi Meeting, Shifts Emerge
in Taiwan’s Public Opinion |
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The meeting between President Donald Trump of the United States and Chinese President Xi Jinping left the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Taiwan independence discourse shaken. |
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Taiwan Independence Platform: DPP's Predicament
Following the meeting between President Donald Trump of the United States and Chinese President Xi Jinping, while the Department of State declared that its “policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged,” the attitudes of Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio towards Taiwan have arguably changed. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has consequently fallen into a strategic dilemma, while Taiwan’s society, regardless of political affiliation, has become increasingly anxious and uneasy, with signs of shifting public opinion blocs emerging.
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Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT) will soon visit the United States. Her narrative on peace, arms sales, and cross-strait relations will be the spotlight. |
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Cheng's U.S. Visit will Address Cross-Strait Peace
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT) will depart for the United States on June 1, and this may prove to be a highly challenging trip. The reason is that there is a gap between “what she wants to discuss” and “what realistically needs to be discussed.” Since April, she has repeatedly declared that Taiwan should play the role of a force for peace. On May 23, she further proposed “normalizing peace across the Taiwan Strait” as the central theme of her U.S. visit, continuing the concept of Taiwan serving as a bridge in the Pacific’s “greater cross-strait” framework. However, within U.S. policy circles today, how many people are actually willing to listen? Nevertheless, there are still aspects of Cheng’s visit that warrant anticipation.
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The turmoil facing the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation may impact the KMT and cross-strait exchanges. |
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Ma Ying-jeou Foundation Turmoil May Fracture KMT
Former President Ma Ying-jeou has accused former executive directors of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation of embezzling public funds, while the other side has insinuated that the former president is suffering from dementia. The controversy has continued to escalate.
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Pro-independence Formosa Alliance drops a bombshell, conditionally accepting a unification plan. |
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May 23:
The Legislative Yuan recently passed the special military procurement budget bill, with the allocated amount reduced by NT$470 billion (about US$15 billion) compared with the Executive Yuan’s version. Civic groups organized a march under the slogan “True Peace Requires National Defense,” claiming 8,000 participants. However, no major Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials attended in support. The DPP caucus of the Legislative Yuan further stated it is willing to respond in good faith to the opposition’s demand to incorporate the spending into the general budget next year. |
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May 25:
Driven by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) remarkable surge, the Taiwan stock market’s capitalization rose to US$4.9 trillion, surpassing India to become the world’s fifth-largest stock market, behind only the United States, mainland China, Japan, and Hong Kong. |
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May 25:
Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT) will visit the United States in June, focusing on the theme of normalizing peace in the Taiwan Strait. She hopes to find a sustainable solution for cross-strait peace while voicing Taiwan’s position, stressing that Taiwan’s security should not become a bargaining chip in U.S.-China dealings. Cheng stated that Taiwan should invest in peace, not in war. |
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May 25:
There is public attention on whether President Donald Trump of the United States will have a phone call with President Lai Ching-te regarding arms sales. Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that U.S. and Taiwan officials have made contact but no concrete plans have been finalized. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung told the Legislative Yuan that the initiative lies with Mr. Trump, and that Washington and Taipei have not discussed details. |
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May 26:
The pro-independence party Formosa Alliance issued an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing willingness under certain conditions to adjust its stance on Taiwan independence and consider becoming part of the People’s Republic of China. The precondition is a binding guarantee of Taiwan governed by Taiwanese, with a high degree of autonomy. |
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May 27:
NVIDIA held a staff assembly at the site of its new Taiwan headquarters. CEO Jensen Huang declared that Taiwan is the global center of the AI revolution and announced investment in Taiwan will be increased to US$150 billion annually. He also revealed NVIDIA’s future strategy, with the next stage focusing on Agent AI and a robotics revolution. |
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May 27:
At the reception celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence held by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Director Raymond Greene cited the story of reconciliation between founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, emphasizing that democracy requires jointly upholding the core values of a free society. This was interpreted as a hope for reconciliation between Taiwan’s ruling and opposition parties. |
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May 29:
Former President Ma Ying-jeou accused Hsiao Hsu-tsen and Wang Kuang-tzu, former executive directors at the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, of violating fiscal discipline. The Foundation has formally filed criminal charges. It also released a photo showing Hsiao and Taiwan Business Association President Han Ying-huan holding cash, questioning why the funds were not recorded. Hsiao and Wang claimed the money was a donation from Taiwanese business people to Ma personally, received with his consent and directed for official use. |
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