During the visit, Cheng expressed hope of acting as a “bridge for peace” between China and Taiwan. Her six-day trip includes stops in Nanjing, Beijing, and Shanghai, with a meeting with Xi expected later in the visit.
Relations between China and Taiwan have deteriorated since 2016, when Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party took office and declined to endorse the “one China” principle.
Analysts say the visit comes at a sensitive time. William Yang of the International Crisis Group noted that growing skepticism in Taiwan toward the United States—driven by Donald Trump’s shifting stance on Taiwan and ongoing Middle East tensions—has created an opening for Cheng to position herself as a leader capable of easing cross-strait tensions.
However, the move remains politically risky. China continues to view Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification.
Critics have also questioned Cheng’s political motives. Chong Ja-Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, described her as an opportunistic leader focused more on personal political survival than consistent principles, adding that public confidence in her leadership remains low.
