KMT chairperson visits mainland: A fresh opening for cross-Strait ties

Editor's note: Xu Xiaoquan, a special commentator for CGTN, is a researcher from the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, will lead a delegation to the Chinese mainland at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping. They will visit Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7 to 12.

The upcoming visit has drawn widespread attention and strong reactions across the Taiwan Strait as it will take place at a critical juncture when cross-Strait ties face increasingly complex and severe challenges, with growing uncertainties clouding peace and stability.

Against this backdrop, Cheng's visit represents an important step in restoring top-level engagement between the KMT and the CPC.

Pushing for peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait

Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in Taiwan in 2016, it has persisted with a "Taiwan independence" stance, leading to a sharp deterioration in cross-Strait ties and a long period of political stalemate and confrontation. Under Lai Ching-te, this trajectory has only intensified. The Taiwan authorities, led by Lai, have gone to great lengths to hype separatist rhetoric, deliberately stoking antagonism toward Beijing.

Last year, they announced plans to spend an extra $40 billion on defense over the coming eight years, steadily expanding spending on so-called defense capabilities and heightening the sense of imminent conflict. Such moves, widely seen as attempts to seek "independence" by force, risk pushing Taiwan closer toward danger.

At the same time, external forces are repeatedly intervening in the Taiwan question. Some Western politicians have maliciously peddled narratives of "military reunification," seeking to undermine the status quo of one China and obstructing China's cause of reunification.

By colluding with foreign forces to pursue separatist provocations, the DPP authorities have further escalated tensions, exposing the region to unprecedented risks and challenges. The consequences are already being felt on the island, where public concern is growing, and calls for peace and stability across the Strait are becoming increasingly louder.

Cheng Li-wun has made the purpose of her visit clear: "We want to prove to the people of Taiwan, and to the world, one thing: War between the two sides is not inevitable; the two sides do not need to descend into danger and armed conflict. With our own wisdom and effort, we can together forge a broad road to peace."

Her remarks resonate with the broader public sentiment on the island – a clear preference for peace over conflict, and for stability over escalation. In this sense, the visit aligns with the historical trend of peaceful development of cross-Strait ties. It also underscores a basic reality: The people on both sides of the Strait are fully capable of managing their own affairs, and the Taiwan question remains a matter for them to resolve, brooking no external interference.

Responding to public concerns and improving people's well being across the Strait

The DPP authorities' escalating push for "Taiwan independence" has not only disrupted the broader trajectory of peaceful cross-Strait development but has also imposed tangible costs on people in Taiwan. For example, in 2024, Chinese mainland has suspended the policy of exempting import duties on 34 agricultural products from China's Taiwan region in response to the unilaterally-imposed discriminatory bans on exports of mainland products by the authorities in the Taiwan region. By February 2026, cross-Strait flight routes have been disrupted due to interference from the DPP authorities, with previously operated destinations yet to resume normal operations.

Despite the unreasonable restrictions by the DPP authorities, the demand for engagement remains remarkably strong across the Strait. In 2025 alone, over 1 million Taiwan compatriots traveled via the "mini three links" – direct two-way postal, trade and transport links between the mainland and the island – a record high. The figure points to an enduring reality: The desire for exchange, cooperation, and peaceful development runs deep and is not easily reversed.

Cheng has emphasized that her visit would seek not only to express a shared aspiration for peace, but also to address the concerns of Taiwan's industries and the development of Taiwan-based enterprises, while exploring new avenues for cross-Strait cooperation. As Wang Jin-pyng, former leader of Taiwan region's legislature, remarked, the DPP secured power with just over 40% of the vote, whereas Cheng's engagement reflects a broader cross-section of public opinion on the island.

In this sense, her visit boosts the thinking that dialogue and cooperation, rather than confrontation, offer the most viable path forward. It also reinforces a broader consensus that the reunification of both sides of the Taiwan Strait is not only a historical conclusion and a legal inevitability, but also the will of the people.

Rebuilding institutional dialogue and paving the way for peaceful reunification

Since assuming power, the DPP authorities have refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, thereby undermining the political foundation for peaceful cross-Strait relations and blocking institutionalized channels of communication.

Cheng Li-wun has been explicit that her visit adheres to the 1992 Consensus and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence." The mainland's invitation reflects a consistent willingness to engage with all parties and groups on the island that share this political consensus, and a commitment to advancing peaceful development through dialogue and consultation.

Cheng's visit is expected to revive long-interrupted mechanisms for institutionalized communication between the CPC and the KMT, creating more structured, professional and pragmatic platforms for exchanges and cooperation.

It also sends a clear signal to political parties and groups on the island that as long as the one-China principle is upheld, the 1992 Consensus recognized, and "Taiwan independence" firmly rejected, there is space for political trust, dialogue, sustained engagement, and institutionalized exchanges – thereby steering cross-Strait relations back onto the right track of peaceful development.

Such efforts align with the shared aspirations of people on both sides of the Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. They also help deter separatist forces trying to whip up "Taiwan independence" sentiments as well as external interference, thereby safeguarding the prospects for peaceful reunification.

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