Xi Jinping Meets Taiwan Opposition Leader to Discuss Cross-Strait Relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), in Beijing on Friday, April 10, 2026. The encounter at the Great Hall of the People marks the first time in over a decade that President Xi has received a sitting leader of the Taiwanese opposition.

Both leaders emphasized a desire for cross-strait peace and stability during the meeting. Cheng Li-wun, who assumed leadership of the KMT in October 2025, framed her visit to China as an effort to safeguard peace and promote the peaceful development of relations between the mainland and the self-governed island.

Conditions for Dialogue

During the talks, President Xi stated that China remains willing to strengthen exchange and dialogue with various parties, including the KMT. However, he specified that such engagement is conditional upon the opposition of Taiwan independence.

The leaders of our two parties are meeting today in order to safeguard the peace and stability of our shared homeland, to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and to allow future generations to share in a bright and beautiful future

Xi Jinping

Xi reiterated his position that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and share a desire for peace. He further identified Taiwan independence as the primary threat undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait and called on party leaders from both the mainland and Taiwan to oppose separatism and foreign interference.

The KMT Position and the 1992 Consensus

In response to the Chinese president, Cheng Li-wun stated that the rejuvenation of the Chinese people is a shared aspiration of the people on both sides of the Strait, adding that the meeting would serve as a positive contribution to world peace and human progress.

Following a closed-door session with Xi, Cheng held a press conference in Beijing. She argued that maintaining the 1992 Consensus and opposing Taiwan independence are essential steps to avoid war, prevent tragedy, work together and create peace, asserting that these principles must be understood by every generation of young people.

Political Friction and Historical Context

The meeting comes amid significant internal political tension in Taiwan. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has criticized Cheng’s trip, with party members accusing the KMT leader of being subservient to Beijing.

High-level communications between Beijing and Taipei were severed in 2016. Beijing cut off these channels after the DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen became president, citing her refusal to endorse the concept of a single Chinese nation. Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification.

The KMT is currently seeking to position itself as a viable interlocutor with the mainland as Taiwan approaches its 2028 presidential election.

Geopolitical Implications

The timing of the visit coincides with broader international diplomatic movements. President Xi is scheduled to hold a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in May 2026.

Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, noted that the tone of the official readout from Beijing represents a meaningful shift. According to Zhang, the message signals Beijing’s preference for a peaceful approach to cross-strait relations and reduces the risk of military conflict across the Taiwan Strait, which is beneficial for both the mainland and Taiwan.