Taiwan-China Relations: A Decade of Political Deadlock

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, the chairwoman of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Beijing on April 10, 2026. This meeting represents the first encounter between Xi and a sitting leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party since 2016.

The diplomatic engagement occurs during a period of high tension between Beijing and Taipei. Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) returned to power in 2016, political channels between the two sides have remained largely frozen, with Beijing labeling the governing party as separatists and refusing to engage unless its terms are met.

Cheng Li-wun assumed leadership of the KMT in October 2025. Her visit to Beijing is part of an effort by the KMT to establish itself as a viable interlocutor with the mainland ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election scheduled for 2028.

Beijing’s Position on Cross-Strait Relations

During the meeting, President Xi Jinping expressed a preference for a peaceful approach to cross-strait relations. According to a readout released by Chinese state media, Xi stated that Beijing welcomes any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

Despite the welcoming tone toward the KMT, Xi reiterated the Chinese government’s firm opposition to Taiwanese independence. He identified ‘Taiwan independence’ as the primary threat undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait and called on party leaders in both mainland China and Taiwan to oppose foreign interference and separatism.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) maintains that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory and a breakaway province that must be unified with the mainland, asserting that this may be achieved by force if necessary.

Regional Security and Military Context

The meeting takes place against a backdrop of escalating military activity. In December 2025, China conducted a war game around the island, which was the largest such operation since 2022. The PRC has continued to increase its military capabilities and conduct intrusive operations near Taiwan.

Analysts, including Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, suggest that the tone of Beijing’s official readout indicates a meaningful shift. Zhang noted that the message reduces the risk of immediate military conflict and signals a preference for a peaceful approach.

U.S. Involvement and External Pressures

The diplomatic movement in Beijing comes ahead of a high-stakes meeting between President Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for May 2026. The United States remains a central actor in the region, with President Trump pursuing an $11 billion arms deal with Taipei, a move that has drawn disapproval from Beijing.

In his second term, President Trump has also implemented tariffs on both China and Taiwan. Some observers have drawn parallels between the U.S. Administration’s military actions in Iran and Venezuela, as well as threats regarding Greenland, and Beijing’s posture toward Taiwan.

While the KMT seeks to avoid conflict through closer ties with the mainland, the island’s current government, led by the DPP, maintains a different view of Taiwan’s status, as they do not view the island as part of a unified China.