Xi Jinping and KMT's Cheng Li-wun Meet in Beijing Amid Cross-Strait Tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, emphasizing that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a common Chinese identity and that the future of cross-strait relations rests with the Chinese people themselves. The high-profile meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, as Cheng continued her self-described peace mission aimed at easing rising tensions between Taiwan and mainland China.

Xi stressed that the world today is far from entirely peaceful, and that peace remains invaluable. He described residents on both sides of the strait as members of one family who collectively desire peace, development, and cooperation. He further stated that China is open to strengthening dialogue with various political parties, including the KMT, provided they stand on the common political ground of opposing Taiwan independence — a position Xi framed as essential to keeping cross-strait relations stable and in the hands of the Chinese people rather than outside actors.

Cheng, leading Taiwan's largest opposition party, expressed hope that the Taiwan Strait would no longer serve as a flashpoint for potential conflict or become a stage for foreign interference. She called on both sides to establish lasting, institutionalized mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation to sustain long-term stability across the strait.

The meeting comes at a sensitive time. Beijing continues to reject any engagement with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a separatist, while Lai's government has urged Cheng to press China to halt its military provocations. Meanwhile, the United States — Taiwan's most critical security partner and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties — has continued supporting Taiwan's defense capabilities, a stance Beijing has consistently opposed.