TAIPEI (TVBS News) — KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) announced Thursday that her meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) will likely unfold between April and June. The Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) leader expressed confidence that the anticipated meeting will steer cross-strait relations toward peace. The exact date remains undecided. The announcement marks a significant development in Taiwan-China relations amid ongoing political tensions between the island and Beijing.
Cheng, who has actively promoted visits to China since assuming her position, believes the "Cheng-Xi Meeting" will significantly benefit the main opposition party's year-end election prospects. She criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) for fostering a "sense of national doom." Cheng said she reached out to international contacts before the Lunar New Year, claiming they had been misled by DPP narratives.
Cheng emphasized Thursday that meeting with Xi is not as challenging as perceived. The political foundation rests on the 1992 Consensus, a framework that acknowledges both sides belong to "one China" while allowing differing interpretations, and opposition to Taiwan independence. She suggested this approach could revive the influx of Chinese tourists and students to Taiwan.
Cheng stressed the importance of the KMT quickly conveying a peaceful option for cross-strait relations to the public. She aims to avoid a conflict similar to Ukraine's war and reiterated Taiwan's desire for peace to Beijing. The KMT chairwoman also criticized the DPP for hindering cross-strait exchanges and commercial ties, which she said has resulted in hardships for various Taiwanese industries. ◼
