The KMT is vehemently denying this report as one would expect. They say that the visits came before Lai announced the budget in his letter to the WSJ and that the story is a typical political smear. Entirely possible but I still have questions about those visits.

news.pts.org.tw/article/784812

According to the story, new KMT deputy chairs Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) and Hsiao Hsu-tsen’s (蕭旭岑) were allegedly dispatched to arrange the meeting. Their CCP interlocutors supposedly set three conditions for the meeting including blocking Lai's defense bill. I guess we will see.

As for the budget bill's not being on the agenda yet, I'll just point out that Chen Yu-jen's nakedly corrupt bill to decriminalize embezzlement legislator funding got onto the agenda and made it into committee immediately. As did Fu's PRC spouse bill.
udn.com/news/story/6...

"The relevant authorities must adopt proactive, effective measures to prevent China from engaging in cognitive warfare against Taiwan or endangering cybersecurity through the internet, applications, AI, and other such tools." §IV(7).
english.president.gov.tw/News/6919

As @donovan-smith.bsky.social writes in the first article quoted above, '[t]he KMT is split internally between those who support a robust military defensive posture, those who vehemently oppose it as “provocative” to China and those who want to win elections and care about public opinion.'

KMT spokesman: “Americans like straightforward honesty, and we make sure they get the right information.” In other words, some deep blue elements in the KMT is priming their supporters to reject American pressure on the defense budget.

Their spokesman says their responses to American concern function like a 'demon-revealing mirror'. In this metaphor, the KMT is a Taoist exorcist holding up a mirror so that the Americans can see the evil represented by the DPP.

The KMT has admitted that it has been contacted by US think thanks and AIT about the budget expressing 'concern'. Their line is that they supposedly 'reasonable' increases in defense spending but have added a new condition: pay for military must increase.
news.ltn.com.tw/news/politic...

Meanwhile, a bill intended to ensure that PRC nationals can hold political office in Taiwan made it out of committee lickety-split. Bill's author? Fu Kun-chi.
bsky.app/profile/shuw...

'After the meeting, KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) told reporters that the party supports protecting Taiwan, but said President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) should report to the Legislature and explain the necessity of the expenditure.' This is a cynical pretext.

Example: 'During a meeting of the Legislature's Procedure Committee, the KMT proposed postponing consideration of the bill, a move that was supported by the TPP [and passed with their support].' In other words, bill is not even on the LY agenda for first reading. focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...

Her better performance in 2024 is almost certainly because Ko was at the top of the ticket. Ko got 26% in 2024 in Yilan. Ko will not be at the top of the ticket this time. She will do better if the KMT concede Yilan to her...but enough to win? Have my doubts.

It's pretty interesting how well this book is being received by Indian reviewers. Is it because Indian intellectuals, as former colonial subjects themselves, get this version of Taiwan's story more easily than those in former imperial metropoles? @willdalrymple.bsky.social