April 10, 2026, 1:02 p.mApril 10, 2026, 1:02 p.m
China’s state and party leader Xi Jinping met a party leader from Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), for the first time in almost ten years. No matter how the international situation develops, the large stream of “compatriots” from both sides who are coming closer and coming together will not change, Xi said in Beijing. The People’s Republic wants to strengthen exchanges based on a rejection of Taiwan’s independence.
Cheng Li-wun meets Xi Jinping.Image: keystone
KMT Party leader Cheng Li-wun said her party and the Chinese Communist Party should work together to institutionalize peace in the Taiwan Strait. She also called for more dialogue and cooperation, among other things to fundamentally eliminate all causes of conflict.
“We came here today hoping to prevent the Taiwan Strait from becoming a battlefield,” Cheng told reporters after the meeting. In the closed-door conversation, Xi said that mainland China respects the social system and way of life of the people of Taiwan and hopes that Taiwan recognizes the mainland’s development achievements, Cheng said.
Visit during parliamentary dispute
The former head of the China-friendly KMT, Hung Hsiu-chu, last met Xi in 2016 during a visit to the People’s Republic. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory, even though a democratically elected and independent government is in power in the island nation.
China’s head of state Xi Jinping. Image: keystone
Cheng has traveled to Shanghai and Jiangsu province in recent days as her party continues to block an expansion of the military budget in Taiwan. In parliament, the opposition, with the KMT as the largest party, has a majority against the government of President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing sees as separatists along with his Democratic Progressive Party.
Taipei reminds us of China’s threats
Taiwan wants to use the money to strengthen its defense capability. China has already threatened several times that it would try to bind the island state with an invasion if necessary. Taiwan receives arms supplies from the USA. In Washington, Cheng’s visit to China is likely to be closely monitored in light of President Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to China in mid-May.
At the same time, Taiwan’s President Lai recalled that China’s military threats had undermined peace and stability in the region. People are sticking to peace, but have no illusions, as history has shown that compromises with “authoritarian powers” come at the expense of democracy, he wrote on Facebook. Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi warned that, among other things, Cheng must make it clear to Xi that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and that China should stop its military threats. (dab/sda/dpa)