China’s President, Xi Jinping, on Friday held high-level talks in Beijing with Cheng Li-wun, the chairwoman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT), expressing confidence that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait would eventually be united.
The meeting marks the first visit by a KMT leader to China in nearly a decade, a move that has stirred political debate in Taiwan, where critics accuse Cheng of aligning too closely with Beijing.
During the talks, Xi emphasised what he described as an “inevitable” historical trend toward unity between China and Taiwan, stating that relations between both sides would continue to improve despite existing tensions.
“The general trend of compatriots on both sides getting closer and becoming united will not change,” Xi said, adding that China remains open to dialogue with Taiwanese groups that oppose independence.
Cheng, addressing journalists after the meeting, echoed a conciliatory tone, suggesting that rejecting Taiwan independence could help prevent conflict in the region.
She also called for both sides to move beyond political confrontation and reduce tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Relations between China and Taiwan have remained strained since 2016, when former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen rejected Beijing’s claims over the island, prompting China to cut off high-level communications.
Tensions have further escalated under current Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing considers a separatist.
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Lai has repeatedly criticised China’s increasing military activities near the island, warning that such actions threaten regional peace and stability.
China has intensified military pressure in recent years, conducting near-daily deployments of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan, alongside large-scale military drills.
Cheng’s visit also comes amid ongoing debates within Taiwan over defence spending. Lawmakers have been divided over a proposed NT$1.25 trillion defence budget, with the KMT advocating a scaled-down alternative while supporting selective arms purchases.
The geopolitical stakes are further heightened ahead of a planned visit by Donald Trump to Beijing for a summit with Xi, as the United States continues to push Taiwan to strengthen its defence capabilities against potential aggression.
Despite the tensions, Cheng maintained that conflict is not inevitable, stating during her visit that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are not destined for war, even as global concerns persist.
Her trip included stops in Shanghai and Nanjing, where she paid tribute to revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, a historical figure respected in both China and Taiwan.
The visit underscores the complex and evolving dynamics of cross-strait relations, where diplomacy, political divisions, and military posturing continue to shape the future of the region.