Chinese President Meets Taiwan Opposition Leader, Emphasizes Unification

Chinese President Xi Jinping/DOK China News Service

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party in Taiwan Cheng Li-wun, in Beijing, Friday (10/4) with one of the topics of discussion being the unification of the two parties.

"President Xi Jinping stressed that whatever changes in the international world and the situation in the Taiwan Strait, the trend of the great rise of the Chinese nation will not change, and the great current of increasingly uniting relations between people on both sides of the Strait will not change," it said. on the Chinese government media page accessed by ANTARA in Beijing, Friday, April 10.

Before meeting Xi Jinping in Beijing, Cheng also visited Shanghai on April 8-9, 2026 to witness the development of technology and industry in the city.

The meeting was also the first meeting between the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the KMT in 10 years.

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are both part of the Chinese nation. Including the people of Taiwan, various ethnic groups together form a multiethnic country that is united, together write a glorious history of China, create a brilliant Chinese civilization, and form a great nation spirit," said Xi Jinping.

In response to the claim, President Xi said there was a common belief that the region should not be divided, the country should not be divided, the nation should not be separated, and the civilization should not be cut off.

"People on both sides of the Strait expect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, improvement and development of cross-Strait relations, and a better life. This is an unavoidable responsibility for both parties, as well as a driving force for joint cooperation," added Xi Jinping.

The Chinese government, said President Xi, adheres to the "1992 Consensus" and opposes "Taiwan independence".

"Together with various political parties, groups, and public figures in Taiwan, including the Kuomintang, we want to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, in order to realize cross-Strait peace, people's well-being, and national rejuvenation, and ensure that the future of cross-Strait relations is in the hands of the Chinese people themselves," said Xi Jinping.

The 1992 consensus is an understanding between the then-ruling KMT and the CPC on the principle of "One China" while still providing room for different interpretations. Meanwhile, the current ruling party in Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has consistently rejected the 1992 Consensus, arguing that it undermines Taiwan's sovereignty.

KMT is known to traditionally maintain warm relations with China. President Xi Jinping also raised four points about cross-strait relations during the meeting.

"First, adhere to the correct identity to strengthen unity. People on both sides of the Strait have the same roots, the same culture, and close blood ties, and are a community with a common future," said Xi Jinping. The difference in social systems, Xi added, is not a reason to divide.

"Both parties and the people on both sides of the strait must adhere to the national position, inherit and develop the Chinese culture, and strengthen the identity of the nation, culture, and state, so as to foster confidence and pride as Chinese people," Xi Jinping added.

Second, adhere to peaceful development to maintain the common home." The people on both sides of the Strait must maintain and build this common home, which is essentially based on adhering to the '1992 Consensus' and opposing 'Taiwan independence', with the core of recognizing both sides of the Strait as part of one China," Xi said.

President Xi said "Taiwan independence" was the main cause of the destruction of peace in the Taiwan Strait, and would not be tolerated.

"Third, adhere to dialogue and integration to improve people's well-being. The Chinese government will continue to adhere to the principle of 'one family across the Strait' and actively provide tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan," Xi said.

Mainland China, Xi said, has beautiful nature and a vast market, and welcomes Taiwanese people to visit often, encourages young Taiwanese to come and develop in mainland China, and opens up markets for agricultural, fishery and quality goods from Taiwan.

"Fourth, adhere to unity and struggle to realize the great revival of the Chinese nation. More and more Taiwanese people will understand the social system and the mainland's development path, and realize that Taiwan's future is linked to the revival of the Chinese nation," Xi said.

Meanwhile, Cheng Li-wun stated that the people on both sides of the Strait are both descendants and part of the Chinese nation, which is influenced by the same culture and is one family.

"Therefore, the two sides should work together and must adhere to the '1992 Consensus' and oppose 'Taiwan independence', strengthen political trust, make full use of communication media, safeguard China's history and culture, and promote cooperation in various fields and encourage the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," Chen said in the report.

The visit also precedes local elections in Taiwan that will take place later this year and are considered to affect the next presidential election in 2028.

Cheng Li-wun himself is a former talk show host and former DPP member. He was elected as chairman of the KMT in late 2025 where the KMT currently holds a majority seat in the Taiwan parliament.

Cheng's visit comes months after the KMT blocked a $57 billion defense budget that would have allowed Taipei to buy US weapons to defend itself against any invasion by China. The KMT did not support the package because it argued that Taiwan could not afford it.

The Chinese government itself describes the current leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, as a "separatist" who wants "Taiwan independence".