Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), in Beijing on Friday, April 10, expressing confidence that relations between China and Taiwan would ultimately lead to unity.
During the meeting, Xi said: “The general trend of compatriots on both sides of the Strait getting closer, edging nearer and becoming united will not change.”
He added: “This is an inevitable part of history. We have full confidence in this.” Xi also indicated Beijing’s willingness to engage with Taiwanese political groups, stating China is ready to strengthen dialogue on the basis of “opposing Taiwan independence.”
Cheng, whose visit marks the first by a KMT leader to China in a decade, echoed similar sentiments, saying efforts to reduce tensions are necessary to avoid conflict. “By opposing Taiwan independence, we can avoid war,” she said at a press conference after the meeting.
She also told Xi that the Taiwan Strait should no longer be seen as a flashpoint, noting that “both sides should transcend political confrontation” and that it could “no longer be a focal point of potential conflict.”
The visit has sparked debate in Taiwan, where critics accuse Cheng of taking a pro-Beijing stance. Relations between China and Taiwan have remained strained since 2016, when Tsai Ing-wen rejected Beijing’s claims over the island after assuming office.
Tensions have intensified further under current president Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing considers a separatist. Responding to the developments, Lai warned that “China’s… military threats in and around the Taiwan Strait and the island chain have severely undermined regional peace and stability.”
China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan and has increased military activity around the island, including frequent deployments of fighter jets and naval vessels.
Cheng’s visit also comes amid internal political debates in Taiwan over defence spending, with lawmakers divided over a proposed NT$1.25 trillion budget aimed at strengthening the island’s military capabilities. Despite the tensions, Cheng maintained that conflict is not inevitable, saying upon arrival in China that “the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared.”