Taiwan Opposition Leader Urges Cooperation With Beijing for Lasting Peace

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in Beijing on April 10, 2026. During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, both leaders expressed a desire to move toward a peaceful reunification of Taiwan and China.

The meeting represents the first official encounter between the sitting heads of the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT in nearly a decade. The KMT is a political party in Taiwan that generally favors closer ties with Beijing.

President Xi stated that China welcomes peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait and described people from both sides as one family. He expressed a willingness to work with all political parties in Taiwan to foster peaceful relations.

We firmly believe that more and more Taiwan compatriots … will recognize that Taiwan’s development prospects hinge on a strong motherland, and that the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots are closely linked to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation

President Xi Jinping, via Xinhua

Cheng Li-wun called for the two sides to unir fuerzas (join forces) to promote the revitalization of Chinese civilization and achieve a lasting peace in the strait. Prior to the meeting in Beijing, Cheng visited Shanghai and stated that birds, not missiles, should fly in the skies.

Diplomatic Context and U.S. Relations

The meeting took place shortly before a planned summit in Beijing in May 2026 between President Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump. Reports indicate that President Xi is likely to use that summit to voice his opposition to United States arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to achieve unification. While Taiwan is a democracy, few countries recognize it as independent due to pressure from Beijing.

Domestic Reactions in Taiwan

The engagement between the KMT and Beijing has caused concern among Taiwan’s ruling party, which worries that such cooperation may enable Beijing to undermine the island’s democracy.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously reiterated that he remains open to talks. However, Beijing has continued to refuse engagement with the governing Democratic Progressive Party, which it views as consisting of separatists.

The visit by Cheng Li-wun was described as a peace mission that began with her arrival in China on April 8, 2026.