The 14-day US visit by Taiwan's Kuomintang chair neared its conclusion, Liberty Times and United Daily News reported. At a Washington news conference, the chair voiced support for strengthening Taiwan's defense and hopes for deeper US-Taiwan defense cooperation.

Reporting on the meeting level diverged. Some outlets said the State Department counterpart was a working-level (desk officer) official, lower than customary; the KMT rejected this as a 'malicious spin.'

During the trip, the chair also attended a New York luncheon that drew US political, business and academic figures. A meeting with the White House National Security Council was said to have been canceled for scheduling reasons.

We do not pronounce on the meeting's level or its political meaning. We present both sides' differing accounts and organize the facts around confirmed itineraries and statements.