Xi Jinping Meets Taiwan Opposition Leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in Beijing on April 10, 2026. The meeting represents the first time a sitting KMT chairperson has met with the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in over nine years.

During the discussions, Xi Jinping stated that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and share a common desire for peace, development, communication, and cooperation. According to footage broadcast by Phoenix TV, Xi expressed confidence that the two sides would ultimately get closer, and reunite.

The historical trend that compatriots of both sides of the strait will get closer and get together will not change, Here’s a certainty of the history, and we are fully confident

Xi Jinping

Cheng Li-wun responded by proposing an institutional solution to prevent and avoid war. She stated that the Taiwan Strait should be transformed into a model for peaceful conflict resolution worldwide and should no longer serve as a flashpoint for potential conflict.

Cheng further suggested that the region should instead become a symbol of peace jointly safeguarded by Chinese people on both sides of the strait.

Diplomatic Context and Travel

Cheng arrived in China on April 7, 2026, and visited several cities prior to her arrival in Beijing. On April 8, 2026, she visited the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, a city that served as the capital of China when it was ruled by the KMT before the CCP took power in 1949.

The high-profile meeting is the first of its kind since November 2016, when then-KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu visited mainland China. The KMT, which fled to Taiwan following its defeat by the CCP in 1949, has faced domestic criticism for its current approach to cross-strait relations.

Reuters reported that the KMT skipped defense talks in Taipei while Cheng conducted her peace talks with Chinese leadership in Beijing.

Domestic Controversy in Taiwan

The visit has sparked significant controversy within Taiwan, where critics have accused Cheng of being too close to the Chinese government. Many in Taiwan view China as a threat to their security and autonomy.

The tension is highlighted by a divide in national identity. Cheng has previously described identifying as Chinese as a very natural thing. However, this position diverges from mainstream opinion in Taiwan, where polling indicates that two-thirds of the population see themselves as being primarily Taiwanese.

The meeting occurs amidst broader geopolitical tensions, including the influence of the United States in the region. Reports indicate that China may seek to exploit perceived weaknesses in U.S. Foreign policy, specifically citing military activity by Donald Trump in the Middle East as a factor that creates an opportunity for China.

The encounter between Xi and Cheng underscores the KMT’s effort to maintain a channel of communication with Beijing, even as the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) maintains a different stance on sovereignty and security.