Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT), met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, concluding a visit Cheng described as a “peace” mission intended to reduce tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Cheng is the first KMT leader to visit China in a decade; she is seen as a proponent of closer ties with Beijing.
Beijing framed the visit as evidence of political space in Taiwan for Chinese interests. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be “reunited” with the mainland and says reunification should be achieved peacefully, though Xi and other officials frequently warn of the possible use of force.
During their talks, Xi reiterated that China would “absolutely not tolerate” Taiwan independence and said the trend of people on both sides moving closer and becoming united “will not change,” calling reunification “an inevitable part of history,” according to Taiwanese media. He said China was willing to strengthen dialogue with groups in Taiwan, including the KMT, on the “common political foundation of … opposing Taiwan independence,” and urged the two parties to “consolidate political mutual trust” and “join hands to create a bright future of … reunification.”
Cheng echoed Xi’s stance after the meeting, saying that opposing Taiwan independence can help avoid war. She told reporters the Taiwan Strait would “no longer be a focal point of potential conflict” and that both sides should transcend political confrontation.
High-level cross-strait contact was severed in 2016 after the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen won the presidency and rejected Beijing’s claims. Since then relations have deteriorated, with China conducting large-scale military drills around Taiwan, including fighter jets and naval exercises at times simulating a blockade. Beijing has refused to speak with Taiwan’s current president, Lai Ching-te, who succeeded Tsai after the January 2024 election and has been labeled a “separatist” by mainland authorities.
Domestically, the 2024 elections left Taiwan with a divided government. The KMT formed a de facto coalition with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) and together hold a parliamentary majority, which they have used to stall a $40 billion special defense budget proposed by the DPP-led executive. The opposition has cited various reasons for blocking the bill; the KMT says Cheng’s China trip is unrelated to defense spending decisions.
Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo warned lawmakers the budget is needed to counter an acute and growing threat from China, saying Beijing is “continuously and persistently expanding its military capabilities” and that the resulting threat is becoming “increasingly severe.” The KMT has skipped rounds of budget talks, and it supports a smaller defense appropriation with the option to buy more arms later rather than the full $40 billion package.
Cheng’s trip comes ahead of a planned summit in May between Xi and US President Donald Trump, where US-Taiwan and China-Taiwan ties are likely to figure prominently. The United States is Taiwan’s largest arms supplier and provides political support to the self-ruled island while avoiding statements that imply formal recognition of Taiwanese independence. The US has backed Taiwan’s proposed defense spending; Cheng opposes the larger plan in favor of a smaller immediate package with options for later purchases.
In February, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump paused a separate $13 billion US arms package for Taiwan to avoid disrupting the upcoming summit with Xi. Washington’s balancing of support for Taiwan with managing its relationship with Beijing adds pressure to cross-strait dynamics as Cheng’s visit and the domestic parliamentary impasse put political influence and security preparations at the center of regional attention. Edited by: Karl Sexton