Speaking at a news conference in Taipei following her return, the chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT) said meetings with U.S. lawmakers, government officials, policy experts and supporters had been positive and encouraging. She did not disclose specific outcomes or agreements resulting from the trip.

“Our meetings with the U.S. side were very positive,” Cheng said, adding that many discussions with members of the administration were confidential.

The visit came as the KMT faces scrutiny over its role in blocking a Taiwanese government proposal to allocate nearly $40 billion for military procurement, including U.S.-supplied weapons systems and domestically manufactured drones.

Cheng rejected reports suggesting she had been unable to secure meetings with senior U.S. security officials and said American interlocutors demonstrated strong understanding of the party’s positions, including its support for military cooperation with Washington and efforts to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities.

The KMT leader said her party remained committed to strengthening Taiwan’s security while pursuing policies aimed at reducing tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Political analysts questioned the significance of the visit, noting the absence of publicly announced high-level meetings. Wen-Ti Sung, a political analyst at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, described Cheng’s reception in Washington as relatively restrained.

“Judging by public information, Cheng did not even get to meet working-level officials at, say, Assistant Secretary level — let alone further up the hierarchy,” Sung said. He added that the limited disclosure surrounding the meetings could indicate lingering reservations among U.S. officials.

Cheng has emerged as one of the most influential figures in Taiwanese politics since unexpectedly assuming leadership of the KMT last year. Her advocacy of closer engagement with China has attracted criticism from opponents who argue that such positions risk undermining Taiwan’s security interests.

The KMT has historically favored stronger ties with Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated it reserves the right to use force to bring the island under its control.

The U.S. trip followed Cheng’s visit to Beijing two months ago, during which she met Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first meeting between a KMT leader and the Chinese leader in a decade. The visit also came weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Xi in the Chinese capital.

Although Washington shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, the United States remains Taiwan’s principal security partner and largest source of defensive military equipment.

Recent comments by President Trump suggesting that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan could potentially be used as leverage in broader negotiations with China have heightened concern among policymakers and security analysts about the future trajectory of U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Sung said Cheng’s Washington visit appeared designed to demonstrate her ability to engage both Beijing and Washington while presenting herself as a credible foreign policy figure. He added that success in balancing those relationships could strengthen speculation about a potential bid for Taiwan’s presidency in 2028.

The Philippine task force on South China Sea issues confirmed the removal of the structure, which Manila had earlier described as a movable platform likely deployed by Chinese research vessels operating in the area.

“While we take note of the removal, we reiterate our principled and unyielding position: Bajo de Masinloc is and will always be an integral part of Philippine territory,” the task force said in a statement, using the Philippine name for the shoal.

The task force said the Philippines possesses “indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty” over the feature, located about 200 kilometers west of the Philippine coast and approximately 874 kilometers from China’s Hainan Island.

Manila further asserted that only the Philippines has the right to construct structures, conduct activities and undertake marine scientific research within the shoal and its territorial waters. It called on foreign entities to comply with international law and refrain from actions that infringe upon Philippine sovereignty.

The platform was first observed near the entrance of the shoal in late May before later being detected inside the lagoon. Philippine authorities said the structure consisted of wooden planks forming a central deck surrounded by cylindrical flotation devices secured around its perimeter.

The Philippines previously lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over the platform’s presence, viewing it as part of activities conducted without Manila’s authorization.

China’s Foreign Ministry maintained its claim over the disputed feature, known in China as Huangyan Island. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that the structure formed part of a program of “comprehensive research” being carried out in the South China Sea.

Lin said the activities were conducted within China’s sovereign rights and that other countries had no authority to interfere.

The episode adds to longstanding tensions between Manila and Beijing over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Relations between the two countries have faced additional strain in recent weeks after China imposed sanctions on Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and several of his close relatives over what Beijing described as “erroneous remarks” regarding China. Teodoro responded by saying he would continue performing his duties despite what he characterized as Beijing’s “wickedness.”

China has maintained a regular presence of coast guard and maritime militia vessels around Scarborough Shoal since gaining effective control of the area in 2012 following a standoff with the Philippines.

The sovereignty dispute remains unresolved. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled largely in favor of the Philippines, finding that China’s actions around the shoal violated international law and determining that the area constituted a traditional fishing ground used by multiple countries. Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to assert what it describes as indisputable sovereignty over the shoal and surrounding waters.

Speaking in Canberra after talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Takaichi said both countries would act with urgency to strengthen energy security amid a supply squeeze linked to reduced shipping through the strait.

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil typically transits through the Strait of Hormuz, with flows curtailed after Iran throttled shipping following attacks by the United States and Israel. About 80 percent of that oil is destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency.

“The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been inflicting enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific,” Takaichi told reporters, adding that Japan and Australia would maintain close communication to respond to the situation.

Both governments said they would seek to enhance resilience and autonomy in energy supply chains. Australia is Japan’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas, while Japan provides a share of refined fuel products, including diesel, to Australia.

The two sides issued a series of agreements covering energy, economic cooperation, defense and critical minerals. Albanese said the measures would help shield Australia from “global shocks” stemming from conflict in the Middle East.

Japan has also emphasized the importance of securing stable supplies of critical minerals used in semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and defense systems. Australia has positioned itself as a key supplier of such resources, highlighting its reserves as an alternative to concentrated global supply chains.

Defense cooperation has expanded alongside economic ties, including a deal valued at around Aus$10 billion for Japan to supply Mogami-class stealth warships to the Australian navy.

In a separate foreign policy address in Vietnam over the weekend, Takaichi reiterated Japan’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a strategy aimed at strengthening regional security and supply chain resilience.
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During his stay in Japan, Macron signed a cooperation roadmap covering critical minerals and defense, and held talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, alongside a meeting with the imperial couple.

He also praised Europe’s “predictability,” in comments widely interpreted as a contrast with recent U.S. policy decisions.The remarks followed criticism from Trump, who described France as “very unhelpful” in the Iran conflict and made personal jibes at Macron.

The exchange highlights growing transatlantic friction as the war continues to reshape global alliances.Macron’s visit to South Korea comes amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, particularly linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies.

The waterway’s effective closure has driven up oil prices and strained import-dependent economies across Asia.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for deeper cooperation with France in an opinion article, emphasizing collaboration in artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, hydrogen technologies and space.

“In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain international environment, partnerships between democratic nations are becoming strategically essential,” Lee wrote.

Seoul has already introduced a fuel price cap to cushion the economic impact of rising energy costs, marking its first such intervention since 1997.Macron’s itinerary in South Korea includes a bilateral summit with Lee, participation in an economic forum, and a visit to a Korean War memorial honoring French troops.

The trip also features cultural engagements, including a dinner with figures from the country’s film and music industries.

The visit underscores France’s effort to deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific while navigating diplomatic strains with Washington over the direction and handling of the Iran conflict.

Cheng, chair of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), is expected to travel from April 7 to 12, visiting cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu, according to party officials.

Outreach contrasts with ruling party stanceThe visit highlights a divergence between the KMT and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, led by President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has refused to engage and labels a “separatist.”

China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has increased political and military pressure on the island, while continuing to engage with opposition figures seen as more open to dialogue.

Cheng has said improving ties with Beijing does not equate to weakening relations with Washington, stressing the need for stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Timing ahead of Trump visitThe trip comes weeks before Trump is expected to travel to China for talks with Xi, placing Taiwan at the center of broader U.S.-China strategic discussions.

Separately, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is also planning visits to Taiwan and the region ahead of the summit, reflecting Washington’s continued engagement despite tensions with Beijing.