Xi Jinping to meet Taiwan's KMT chairwoman in Beijing amid cross-strait tensions and political scrutiny

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on 10 April, marking the first such engagement between Beijing and Taiwan’s main opposition party in nearly a decade.

The meeting comes as official relations between China and Taiwan remain frozen, with Beijing seeking alternative avenues to exert influence over the island’s political landscape.

Xi will meet Cheng in his capacity as head of the Communist Party of China, according to reports by United Daily News.

The last comparable high-level interaction took place in 2016, following the landmark 2015 meeting between Xi and then Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore.

That earlier meeting had raised hopes for closer cross-strait relations, but the political trajectory shifted when the Kuomintang lost three successive presidential elections to the Democratic Progressive Party.

Cheng’s visit and dialogue strategy

Cheng is currently on a rare visit to China, having already met party officials in Nanjing and Shanghai prior to the planned Beijing talks.

She has framed the visit as part of a broader strategy of “deterrence through dialogue”, arguing that conflict between Taiwan and China is “not inevitable”.

During a visit to Sun Yat-sen’s mausoleum in Nanjing, Cheng invoked the founding ideals of equality, inclusiveness and unity.

“We should work together to promote reconciliation and unity across the Strait and create regional prosperity and peace,” she said in remarks broadcast live on Taiwanese television.

Her messaging has consistently emphasised engagement over confrontation, positioning dialogue as a pathway to stability.

Statements to business community in Shanghai

On 9 April, Cheng met Taiwanese business groups in Shanghai, where she reiterated the Kuomintang’s long-term political ambitions and cross-strait approach.

She stated: “Only peace can revitalise Taiwan. The Kuomintang believes the state of hostility across the Strait must end. It must be broken, replacing confrontation with goodwill and opposition with dialogue.”

She added that the party would pursue expanded exchanges across multiple sectors regardless of its political status.

“The Kuomintang, whether in opposition or when it returns to power in 2028, will fully promote large-scale exchanges and cooperation across all fields,” she said.

Addressing business leaders, Cheng acknowledged their concerns, stating: “I know many of you have felt aggrieved in recent years. The Kuomintang believes that when it returns to power in 2028, a new era can begin.”

Political reactions and scrutiny in Taiwan

The visit has drawn scrutiny in Taiwan, where the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has stressed that no political group is authorised to negotiate with Beijing outside official channels.

The party has also warned that China could use such engagements to influence Taiwan’s defence posture, including its military procurement decisions involving the United States.

Taiwan’s government has maintained a cautious stance, particularly given Beijing’s longstanding claim over the island despite never having governed it.

Defence spending and policy tensions

The meeting also comes against the backdrop of domestic political disagreements over defence spending in Taiwan.

The Kuomintang has stalled a proposed US$40 billion (S$51 billion) special defence budget put forward by President Lai Ching-te. The plan aims to fund a multi-layered air defence system in response to potential threats from China.

While the opposition has proposed a scaled-down version, it has indicated willingness to support increased defence spending if additional United States arms sales are confirmed.

This divergence reflects broader debates within Taiwan over how best to balance deterrence, defence, and diplomatic engagement.

Public opinion and cross-strait realities

Despite Beijing’s efforts to promote closer ties, public sentiment in Taiwan remains largely resistant to political unification with China.

Polling by the Election Study Center at National Chengchi University indicates that fewer than 10 per cent of Taiwan’s population supports unification.

Cheng has nevertheless emphasised shared cultural and historical ties, noting that Chinese communities exist on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Geopolitical implications

The planned meeting is likely to carry implications beyond cross-strait relations, particularly as Xi prepares for a summit with United States President Donald Trump in May.

Analysts suggest that engagement with Taiwan’s opposition could allow Beijing to signal that segments of Taiwanese society remain open to closer ties with China.

Such positioning may form part of a broader diplomatic strategy as China navigates tensions with both Taiwan and the United States.