Editor's note: Han Bing is an associate researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

From April 7 to 12, Cheng Li-wun, as chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party, will lead a delegation to visit the Chinese mainland. Ahead of the visit, she stressed that based on the political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing separatist activities, the KMT wants to prove to the people of Taiwan and the whole world that cross-Strait relations don't have to face the prospect of warfare and can jointly embark on a path of peace with their wisdom and efforts.

Cheng's visit comes at a crucial time when cross-Strait relations badly need to break the deadlock and return to the right track of integrated development. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have adopted a separatist stance, and colluded with external forces in successive provocative actions designed to divide the country. They have refused to recognize the one-China principle, and distort and deny the 1992 Consensus. The actions of the DPP authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Strait relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and bringing real pain to ordinary residents in Taiwan.

In this situation, Cheng's visit to the mainland directly responds to mainstream public opinion in Taiwan that aspires to peaceful development and an end to "kneeling to the US and selling out Taiwan."

For some time now, some forces in the US, still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a cold-war mindset, insist on perceiving and portraying China as a major strategic adversary and a serious long-term threat.

Exploiting Taiwan as a convenient tool to undermine and pressurize China, they have deliberately manipulated and maliciously interfered in the Taiwan question. They are clouding the one-China principle in uncertainty and compromising its integrity. They are increasing arms sales and colluding in military provocation, in order to embolden these separatist forces.

Over the past two years, the US government, under the guise of "America First," has exploited Taiwan even more. They directly pressured the island to increase its "defense spending" to over 3% of GDP. And they plan to sell tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons to Taiwan, turning it into its "ATM" and even a "powder keg" and "ammunition depot."

The US has seen its strategic credibility and military deterrence collapse, especially in geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. This has made an increasing number of people in Taiwan realize that the US will not "protect them." In fact, it is "harming Taiwan" and may even "destroy Taiwan" at a critical moment.

The latest poll by a research group in Taiwan shows that only about 34% of people there believe the US is a trustworthy country, much lower than 45% in 2021. Over half of the respondents tend not to believe in the US security commitment to Taiwan, with 32.3% saying they do not quite believe in it and 22.2% saying they do not believe in it at all. This proves the DPP authorities' myth of seeking the US support for "Taiwan independence" has no real support.

Locals in Taiwan have long seen through the fact that the separatist forces are intensifying cross-Strait tension and confrontation. They are doing so at the cost of the interests, wellbeing and future of the people of Taiwan rather than for their benefit. In short, the DPP authorities will plunge Taiwan into the abyss and bring nothing but disaster to the island.

At present, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. Taiwan is part of China and the two sides that cross the Strait belong to one and the same China. Compatriots across the Strait are all Chinese who share natural kinship and national identity. The Taiwan question originated from national weakness and disorder, and will definitely end with national rejuvenation.

The DPP authorities are going against the trend of the times, attempting to collude with external forces and tie Taiwan to the chariot of "Taiwan independence." The actions of the DPP authorities have harmed the interests of the residents in Taiwan, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Cheng's visit to the Chinese mainland is in the name of cross-Strait peace. It matches mainstream public opinion in Taiwan – doubting that the US will protect the island and opposing Lai Ching-te's act of selling out Taiwan. This trip will create an important opportunity for cross-Strait relations to step out of the shadow of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

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