Taiwan — widely regarded as the world's top conflict flashpoint — has seen its defense budget remain stalled in the legislature, even as Japan, the Philippines, and other Indo-Pacific allies accelerate military buildups at their fastest pace since World War II. The impasse is driven partly by internal divisions within the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's largest opposition party — divisions that, according to one KMT-linked analyst based in Washington, are beginning to erode the party's credibility with the United States.
Jason Hsu (許毓仁), a former KMT legislator and current senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, sat down with The Storm Media at his Taipei hotel the day before returning to the United States, following an April visit during which he led a Washington think tank delegation to meet with officials across the political spectrum.
His assessment was direct: "Washington still values the KMT and the alliance relationships built over the years. But there are serious questions about the direction its leadership is taking," Hsu said. "KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun must convince Washington she is a trustworthy partner — you cannot say one thing in Beijing, another in Washington, and something else entirely in Taiwan."
Smiling for the Cameras: How Beijing Used the Cheng-Xi Meeting
In mid-April, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) traveled to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taiwan's national security officials subsequently assessed that Beijing used the meeting to promote the narrative that Taiwan holds three positions: anti-Japan, anti-America, and anti-arms procurement.
After returning to Taiwan, Cheng appeared on a popular online program hosted by "Kuan Chang (館長)," where she described Chinese officials as expressing what she characterized as genuine, heartfelt desire for peace, based on their personal experiences in conflict zones.
She also argued that Chinese drone and AI technology is primarily developed for civilian and humanitarian purposes — suggesting, in one widely noted phrase, that drones should be used to 'deliver bubble tea, not missiles.' She urged confidence in Beijing's peaceful intentions, and called on both sides of the strait to demonstrate to the world that peaceful cross-strait relations are achievable — arguing that the international community should neither interfere nor treat the situation as a spectacle."
Hsu pushed back firmly. "China's peace narrative is a standard playbook. Xi has carefully cultivated the image of a peacemaker," he said. "But we can see that while talking about peace and civilian welfare, China continuously harasses Taiwan — PLA aircraft circumnavigating the island, gray zone operations, and the ability to block a presidential trip abroad within 24 hours." Hsu argued that if Beijing truly held goodwill toward Taiwan, such behavior would leave Taiwan's public deeply confused and unable to accept Beijing's claims of goodwill.
Are Chinese Drones a Civilian Tool or a Trojan Horse?
"A drone can deliver bubble tea — but it can also fire missiles," Hsu said plainly. He acknowledged that technology broadly improves civilian life, pointing to Amazon delivery drones and autonomous vehicles operating in the United States as examples. But he emphasized that on modern battlefields, AI and unmanned systems are actively redefining both tactical outcomes and decision timelines.
"When technology becomes dual-use, you have to approach it with sensitivity," Hsu said. He warned that widespread reliance on Chinese-manufactured drones creates multiple vectors of risk: algorithmic data harvesting, digital surveillance of behavioral patterns, and the potential for remote weaponization. "It all depends on who is in control," he said.
Hsu argued that the contested Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) — which remains the most contentious point of disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties — is precisely what would allow Taiwan to develop its own drone industry, advance defense indigenization, and integrate into international supply chains. The KMT's stated concern — that DCS arrangements could generate corruption — is addressable through legislative oversight, rigorous auditing, and targeted budget freezes, he argued. "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he said. "The most important item right now — drones — has been excluded. That is the core problem."
Hsu drew on direct field observation: "Since the Ukraine war, much of the fighting has depended on drones and asymmetric capabilities. I visited Ukraine myself. That dimension has become even more critical. And given Taiwan's strength in ICT manufacturing, we have every opportunity to make this our second 'guardian mountain.'"
Chinese Disinformation: The Goal Is Polarization, Not Electoral Victory
A recent Reuters investigation found that the CCP has been actively employing a strategy of 'using Taiwan's voice against Taiwan' — leveraging Chinese Communist Party-linked social media accounts to significantly increase their use of clips featuring Taiwanese voices, selectively edited segments critical of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to amplify division within Taiwan.
Of the 25 most-amplified individuals, more than half — 13 — were affiliated with the KMT. Cheng ranked first by volume of circulated clips; the online host "Kuan Chang," who recently interviewed her, also appeared prominently.
Hsu said China's disinformation campaign operates through deliberate channels designed to reach and shift undecided voters. But, he clarified, the strategic objective is not to deliver electoral victory to any particular party. "The goal is to deepen division between parties and across society — to create internal chaos in Taiwan," he said.
"The Cheng-Xi meeting was a performance," Hsu said. "Beijing's peace narrative and its so-called goodwill policies toward Taiwan are no different from before. The key point is: China has not stopped its military exercises."
Is the KMT Losing Washington's Trust?
Hsu acknowledged that his positions on arms procurement diverge from the current KMT party line. He holds no current party role or public office. "My recent statements on arms procurement are grounded in Taiwan's security interests and my commitment to defending the Republic of China (ROC)," he said. "I work on the front lines in Washington. I see how precarious Taiwan's situation is."
Hsu pointed to the structural complexity created by U.S. President Donald Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy. "Trump operates outside conventional diplomatic and political logic," he said. "That is precisely why, with external variables shifting so dramatically, Taiwan should be reducing its own risk factors — not adding to them."
His concern is that the "peace narrative" co-presented by Cheng and Beijing could enable China to successfully project internationally the false image that Taiwan neither wants nor needs weapons — potentially reducing Taiwan's leverage in great-power bargaining dynamics.
Hsu does not believe the KMT can afford to abandon Washington as an anchor relationship, particularly within the long-term structural competition between the United States and China. "If the KMT's China policy cannot earn Washington's trust, Washington will simply categorize it as a pro-Beijing party," he said. "As someone who once served as a KMT legislator, what I see is that Taiwan needs a strong opposition — one that takes a consistent position on defense and national security, that provides oversight, and that proposes better policy ideas and budget frameworks capable of persuading the public. I believe most centrist voters support national security and higher defense investment."
Cheng's Planned Washington Visit: Slogans Won't Be Enough
Cheng is reportedly planning a visit to Washington in June. Hsu assessed the situation candidly. "Washington's current impression of Cheng is a composite — assembled from fragments," he said. "There is genuine curiosity about her, especially after Beijing and her meeting with Xi. People want to know whether the peace framework she has described is actually workable."
If Cheng arrives in Washington with slogans but no substantive commitments, Hsu suggested, the limits of her position will become apparent quickly. "She will be seen through fast," he said.
Hsu does not expect either the Beijing visit or the planned Washington trip to produce significant effects on Taiwan's local elections later this year. However, he views both as early signals of the KMT's posture heading into the 2028 presidential race.
"The KMT must decide clearly who it speaks for," he said. "The politicians running for office are seeking votes in Taiwan. What we are defending is Taiwan — this homeland. If we cannot even provide frontline soldiers with adequate equipment, then I have to ask: are the people voting for us Chinese citizens? Members of Beijing's Politburo Standing Committee?"
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