Taiwan opposition leader visits China for expected meeting with Xi Jinping

Taiwan opposition leader visits China for expected meeting with Xi Jinping

The current head of Taiwan’s primary opposition party has landed in mainland China, where she is set to engage with President Xi Jinping during her six-day itinerary. This trip includes stops in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing, with the anticipated meeting occurring later in her schedule. Cheng Li-wun, who assumed leadership of the Kuomintang (KMT) last year, has expressed willingness to act as a “bridge for peace” in her acceptance of Xi’s invitation.

Cheng’s visit marks the first time an incumbent KMT leader has crossed the strait to meet with Beijing in over a decade. This development follows a period of reduced communication from China after the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ing-wen became president in May 2016. At that time, Beijing cited Tsai’s rejection of the “one China” principle as a reason for severing some diplomatic channels.

“Beijing wants a cordial meeting with Taiwan’s opposition to undermine the argument for US-Taiwan defence cooperation,” says Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National University’s Taiwan Centre.

China continues to view Taiwan as an autonomous province that will eventually unite with the mainland. The possibility of military action remains on the table, though the focus of Cheng’s visit is diplomatic. In contrast, many Taiwanese identify as a sovereign nation, but most support maintaining the current status quo, avoiding formal declarations of independence or unification.

Taiwan’s ruling DPP party has voiced concerns about Cheng’s trip, calling her “subservient” to Beijing and asserting that her visit will be “completely controlled” by the Communist Party. The DPP has also blamed China for “disrupting regional peace,” highlighting its ongoing military activities around the island. Premier Cho Jung-tai stated the government will closely track the progress of Cheng’s journey.

Analysts suggest Cheng’s willingness to engage with Beijing contrasts with her predecessors’ more reserved stance on cross-strait relations. This shift comes amid rising doubts about the US in Taiwan, largely attributed to Donald Trump’s inconsistent policies and the Middle East conflict. “Cheng sees this as an opportunity to position herself as a political leader capable of sustaining cross-strait exchange and easing tensions,” notes William Yang, a North East Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group.

Despite the US’s formal alliance with Beijing, it has long been Taiwan’s largest arms supplier. Recent statements from Trump, who claimed Taiwan should reimburse the US for defending against China, have fueled this skepticism. A bipartisan delegation visited Taipei last week to push for a $40bn special defence spending bill, which is currently blocked in the opposition-led legislature.

Cheng’s trip coincides with Xi’s planned meeting with Trump, scheduled for 14 and 15 May. “This allows China to focus on cutting business deals with the US during Trump’s visit rather than addressing cross-strait issues,” explains Sung. The move may benefit Cheng and the KMT ahead of upcoming local elections, as she aims to bolster her leadership by promoting peace.

However, within Taiwan, Cheng’s alignment with Beijing has drawn criticism. Chong Ja-Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, describes her as “a fair-weather politician, an opportunist with little principle.” This perception has led to declining public support for her, with polls reflecting a lack of confidence. “Who this benefits, and how much, are the bigger questions,” Chong adds.