By Gabriel Ameh
📍Beijing, China
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held high-level talks in Beijing with Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, with both sides emphasizing closer cross-strait relations and renewed commitment to eventual reunification.
The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, a venue reserved for top-level diplomatic engagements, underscoring the importance Beijing attaches to the visit.
Speaking ahead of closed-door discussions, Xi reiterated China’s long-standing position that Taiwan is an “inalienable” part of its territory, describing reunification as a “historical inevitability.” He linked the goal to China’s broader ambition of national rejuvenation, a strategic vision aimed at elevating the country to global prominence by 2049.
Xi also stressed that dialogue with political groups in Taiwan remains open, but only under the condition that parties adhere to the “1992 Consensus,” which acknowledges the principle of “one China,” despite differing interpretations.
Cheng, who leads the Kuomintang (KMT), called for deeper engagement and cooperation, urging both sides to move beyond political differences and pursue what she described as mutual prosperity. She emphasized the need for sustained dialogue mechanisms and cautioned against external interference in cross-strait relations.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. However, Taiwan officially known as the Republic of China operates as a self-governing entity and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
The United States remains Taiwan’s most significant international partner and arms supplier, a relationship that continues to draw criticism from Beijing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
