Taipei: The United States' de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Raymond Greene, met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun on Wednesday at the KMT headquarters. The meeting took place on the eve of crucial cross-party negotiations in the Legislature concerning a stalled defense budget for U.S. arms procurement.
According to Focus Taiwan, both the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and Cheng shared details of their meeting on social media. AIT's Facebook post quoted Greene and Cheng emphasizing that "cross-Strait differences should be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait." Cheng further highlighted that the peace across the Strait is essential not just for regional stability but also aligns with the core interests of the international community.
Cheng's post also stressed the need for continued dialogue and peaceful development in cross-Strait relations. This meeting comes as Taiwan's special defense budget remains stalled in the Legislature, sparking debate over military spending and conflict prevention strategies.
In a separate Facebook post, AIT revealed that Greene had met with former KMT Chairman Eric Chu last week. They discussed the enduring U.S. support for Taiwan and reiterated the mutual benefits of robust ties.
The meeting between Greene and Cheng is particularly significant as President Lai Ching-te's proposed eight-year NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.66 billion) defense budget, intended for 2026-2033, has faced opposition. Opposition parties have suggested alternative funding proposals ranging from NT$380 billion to NT$400 billion.
Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu is set to hold cross-party talks on Thursday to address these proposals, following a previous session that failed to yield substantial discussion.