China’s president Xi Jinping has held a rare meeting in Beijing with Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, declaring that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and want peace.
The discussion between Xi and Cheng, who leads Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), marks the first such contact in a decade. It comes at a sensitive moment in cross-strait relations and has already stirred debate in Taiwan.
Cheng’s visit to Beijing has drawn criticism from opponents at home, where some accuse her of being too close to China. That criticism reflects deep political divisions in Taiwan over how to deal with Beijing, which many on the island view as a threat.
The meeting itself is notable not only because of the messages exchanged, but also because of how unusual direct contact of this kind has become. According to the source report, it is the first meeting of its kind in 10 years.
Xi’s comments underscore Beijing’s longstanding position that Taiwan is part of China, while Cheng’s presence in Beijing highlights the KMT’s more engagement-oriented approach to the mainland compared with Taiwan’s governing camp.
The visit and the meeting are likely to be closely watched in Taiwan, where any sign of political outreach to Beijing tends to prompt scrutiny and debate. For supporters, such contact can be framed as a way to reduce tension. For critics, it can raise concerns about political proximity to China and the island’s security.
The source report does not detail any agreements or formal outcomes from the meeting, but it does show that the encounter itself was symbolically significant. In a region shaped by years of strained ties, even a brief direct exchange between top political figures can carry substantial political weight.
