Washington: Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun met with several U.S. senators and representatives in Washington on Wednesday, discussing Taiwan's defense budget, arms purchases, and energy policy, among other issues.

According to Focus Taiwan, Cheng met with Republican Sen. Steve Daines, Republican Reps. John Rose and Chuck Fleischmann, and Democratic Rep. Thomas Suozzi. In an earlier interview, Cheng mentioned that one of her visit's purposes was to explain the KMT's position on Taiwan's defense budget and arms purchases, addressing concerns expressed by U.S. lawmakers.

Cheng stated that the KMT is not opposed to purchasing arms from the United States, emphasizing the party's seriousness about such purchases. KMT lawmakers have prioritized the passage of Taiwan's defense budget for U.S. arms procurement. However, the party insists that defense spending should follow due process, maintain fiscal discipline, and avoid potential corruption.

In November 2025, Taiwan's Cabinet proposed a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.4 billion) to be spent over eight years. After months of legislative review, lawmakers approved the budget in May 2026, setting a spending cap of NT$780 billion.

During her visit to the U.S., Cheng noted that American lawmakers also raised questions about Taiwan's energy policy and nuclear power. Some lawmakers expressed frustration over the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's anti-nuclear stance and welcomed the KMT's support for nuclear energy. Cheng expressed hope for deeper cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. on nuclear energy technologies.

Taiwan's Cabinet stated in March that any restart of nuclear power generation would depend on meeting requirements related to nuclear safety, nuclear waste management, and public consensus. The government plans to continue energy transition policies and develop green energy sources. The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that nuclear safety inspections would be completed as soon as possible, with reports expected by the end of 2027.

Taiwanese media had reported that Cheng would meet with U.S. National Security Council officials during her trip. However, journalists outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building saw no signs of Cheng or her delegation. Victor Chin, the KMT's representative to the U.S., confirmed a meeting was arranged but declined to provide further details.

Cheng and her delegation met with Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to discuss cross-strait relations, U.S.-Taiwan ties, and defense issues, according to Chin.