Taiwan Opposition Leader's Peace Visit to China

0:00It's April 8th, U.S. News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. Taiwan's opposition leader, Cheng Li-won, landed in China on Tuesday, invited by President Xi Jinping for what she calls a journey for peace. This marks the first visit by Taiwanese opposition figure in 10 years, as Beijing keeps pushing to bring the self-ruled island under its control. Meanwhile, her trip comes right before a May summit between Xi and President Donald Trump. Back home, Taiwan's opposition-led parliament has blocked a $40 billion special defense budget meant for U.S. arms deals and building local weapons. At Taipei's airport, a small crowd of supporters and critics showed up, waving signs and chanting. Cheng stressed Taiwan's push to avoid war and urged China to show real commitment to talks over force. China is wrapping up military moves, flying warplanes and ships near Taiwan daily, with recent live-fire drills. Beijing slams U.S. arms sales, like an $11 billion deal for missiles and drones, calling

1:05Taiwan ties an internal matter. Experts say her visit might ease Taiwan tensions at the seat Trump talks, letting them focus on trade instead. Cheng's Quomentang Party could ink low-level deals with China's communists to restart dialogue and calm things down across the strait.