Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended a message to Cheng Li-wun, the newly elected leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), calling for intensified efforts toward “reunification” and closer cross-strait cooperation. The message comes at a sensitive moment, as tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue to simmer, and international attention on the Taiwan Strait remains heightened. Xi emphasized strengthening the political foundation between the two sides, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and fostering national unity as critical steps toward achieving his vision of reunification.
Cheng Li-wun, who will formally assume KMT leadership on November 1, has highlighted the importance of cross-strait peace and stability, framing the relationship in terms of shared ethnic and cultural ties rather than an immediate push for reunification. While he did not explicitly endorse Xi’s reunification agenda, his position aligns with the KMT’s long-standing preference for engagement with Beijing, contrasting sharply with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which China regards as separatist.
The KMT leadership election was not without controversy. Reports of Chinese interference surfaced, particularly targeting Cheng’s main rival, Hau Lung-bin, through disinformation campaigns allegedly supported by the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, Jaw Shau-kong. Jaw later warned the party to resist pro-China influence and prioritize the voice of Taiwanese voters. Meanwhile, the DPP also criticized the election process, claiming Beijing meddled in Taiwan’s internal politics, though KMT officials dismissed these concerns as politically motivated.
Xi’s message signals China’s continued strategy to engage Taiwan’s opposition rather than its ruling party, reinforcing Beijing’s narrative that the KMT represents a more cooperative and favorable counterpart in cross-strait relations. As tensions across the Taiwan Strait persist, Xi’s appeal for reunification underscores China’s enduring focus on Taiwan while international scrutiny of the region intensifies.