Kaohsiung – Taiwan

Xi Jinping, the leader of China and head of the Communist Party, recently met with the President of Taiwan’s major opposition party for the first time in nearly ten years. Zheng Liyun, the President of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang), visited Xi in Beijing on Friday.

Before their discussion, the two leaders posed for photos. Xi emphasized that Taiwan has always been part of China, describing it as an “indivisible” part of the nation. He stated that the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” is a longstanding goal that remains unchanged. This narrative is common in Chinese state media, even though the communist regime hasn’t governed Taiwan since its establishment in 1949.

In this meeting, both leaders engaged as representatives of their political parties. China typically refrains from interacting with Taiwan’s elected government, which is headed by President Lai Ching-de of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Notably, the DPP has won presidential elections since 2016 but lost the parliamentary majority in 2024 to an opposition coalition led by the Nationalist Party.

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The backdrop to this meeting is a conflict in Taiwan regarding defense spending, reflected in opposition parties blocking Lai’s proposed $40 billion defense budget. Recently, Republican Senator Jim Banks remarked that approving this budget would signify Taiwan’s commitment to its defense and “peace through strength.”

Hours before Zheng and Xi’s meeting, Lai expressed concerns on social media, suggesting that any compromises with China’s government could threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty. There is also anxiety that delaying the special budget might affect U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, especially with President Trump potentially seeking a deal with Xi in May.

Xi’s concept of “rejuvenating the Chinese nation”—echoed by Zheng—aims for China to emerge as a premier global power by 2049, marking the century since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

In potentially contentious remarks, Zheng reiterated many of Xi’s phrases, stating that the Kuomintang and Communist Party share a historical goal to revive the Chinese nation. He claimed this rejuvenation includes people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Views in Taiwan seem quite different. For example, Rose Chow, a 45-year-old school administrator from Kaohsiung, believes Taiwan should sever all ties with China. She expressed a strong desire for a Republic of Taiwan, acknowledging the possibility of conflict, and remarked, “I’m willing to fight.”

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Chow mentioned that most people in her circle support maintaining the current situation. While a few are in favor of unification, conditions under which they would accept it remain unclear.

Since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, Taiwan has officially been named the Republic of China, implying its connection to China rather than the communist regime. Previously, this arrangement was acceptable to Beijing, but under Xi’s leadership, there has been increasing pressure for Taiwan’s total compliance.

This was the first meeting between leaders of the Nationalist Party and Communist Party in about a decade, although such dialogues have occurred before. In previous meetings, both parties addressed each other using formal titles rather than their current titles.

A spokesperson for the American Association in Taiwan expressed support for dialogue between the two parties but emphasized the need to prioritize communication with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives.

Elizabeth Freund-Larus, a Taiwan Fellowship scholar, indicated that the Kuomintang’s approach may not resonate with many Taiwanese voters. She noted that Zheng’s visit resembles outdated strategies aimed at fostering cross-strait relations. Potentially, Beijing might use this visit to promote the idea of Taiwanese proximity to Chinese culture while painting Taipei in a negative light.

Analysts suggest that the outcome of Zheng’s trip and his meeting with Xi will ultimately depend on the Taiwanese electorate, despite external influences. The U.S. still emphasizes the necessity of legislative approval for substantial arms purchases related to Taiwan and expects Taiwan to honor its investment commitments to the U.S.