Xi Meets Taiwan Opposition Leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing
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- Xi Jinping met Cheng Li-wun in Beijing, stating people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and want peace, the first such meeting with a KMT leader in ten years
- Cheng Li-wun said she would invite Xi to visit Taiwan if the KMT wins the 2028 election and called for Taiwan to become a 'symbol of peace' rather than a flashpoint
- Cheng Li-wun identified as Chinese during the visit, a stance increasingly at odds with mainstream Taiwanese identity, where two-thirds see themselves as primarily Taiwanese
- Beijing increased military pressure around Taiwan ahead of the meeting, with Xi emphasizing 'reunification' as part of his legacy and not ruling out force
- Amanda Hsiao noted Beijing aims to exploit divisions in Taiwan by casting doubt on Lai’s defence-focused policies and amplifying voices favoring closer cross-strait ties
- William Yang said China may use Cheng’s meeting with Xi to signal to Trump that Taiwan has allies aligned with Beijing, potentially influencing US arms sales policy ahead of their summit
Why it matters: The meeting strengthens Beijing’s narrative of shared Chinese identity while exploiting Taiwan’s political divisions. With a $40bn defence budget stalled and US arms sales under scrutiny, Beijing gains leverage to challenge Taipei’s security strategy and influence Washington’s stance ahead of the Xi-Trump summit.
