Cheng Li-wun's visit signals mainland's sincerity in advancing cross-Strait peace, experts say

A landmark meeting between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, was held in Beijing on Friday. It has been widely interpreted by analysts as a signal of the mainland's commitment to promoting peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

During the talks, both sides reaffirmed that people on both sides of the strait are Chinese and belong to one family, reiterated adherence to the 1992 Consensus, and expressed willingness to deepen cooperation in areas including people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade ties.

Experts noted that although the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the current ruling party in the Taiwan region, the mainland's invitation to Cheng underscores Beijing's consistent effort – "with maximum sincerity and utmost commitment" – to advance peaceful cross-Strait relations.

They added that the meeting reached consensus on expanding exchanges in economic, cultural and civil sectors and could help revive communication mechanisms between the CPC and the KMT, boost cross-Strait ties, and align with mainstream public sentiment in Taiwan favoring stability and engagement.

Clear signals on peaceful cross-Strait ties

Xu Xiaoquan, a researcher at the Taiwan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told CGTN that the meeting delivered a "clear and explicit message" to the KMT,  the DPP and the international community.

"For the KMT, the talks reaffirm that adhering to the one-China principle and promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the path consistent with historical trends and public opinion," Xu said. "At the same time, it sends a warning to the DPP authorities that any separatist moves toward 'Taiwan independence' that undermine regional stability are bound to fail."

Xu added that for the international society, the meeting also underscored Beijing's long-standing position on the Taiwan question: It is China's internal affair and should not be subject to external interference. "People on both sides of the strait have the wisdom and capability to properly handle their own affairs and safeguard peace and stability," he said.

According to Xu, the meeting not only strengthens the political foundation for stable cross-Strait relations, but also sets a model for broader dialogue between the mainland authorities and various political parties, groups and social sectors in Taiwan, helping guide exchanges back onto a constructive track.

Prospects on restoring CPC-KMT regularized dialogue

Zhang Hua, another CASS researcher, highlighted the meeting's dual significance. On the one hand, it could pave the way for restoring regularized KMT-CPC exchanges; on the other, it sends a broader signal of commitment to peaceful development.

He recalled that in 2005, amid heightened tensions under then-Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, KMT and CPC leaders held a historic meeting and established a regular dialogue platform – the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum – which continued through 2015. Although the two parties held another forum in 2016 after the DPP returned to power, subsequent restrictions on cross-Strait exchanges led to the suspension of this mechanism.

"Reviving such institutionalized dialogue would carry significant implications for future cooperation between the two parties," Zhang said.

He added that the latest meeting comes at a time when the DPP authorities under Lai Ching-te try their best to obstruct cross-Strait engagement and seek "Taiwan independence" with closer alignment with the United States.

"Against this backdrop, Xi's remark that the future of cross-Strait relations should be 'firmly in the hands of the Chinese people' was a clear signal that the Taiwan question should not be dictated by external forces," Zhang said.

At the end of last year, the Lai administration unveiled a 1.25-trillion new Taiwan dollar (about $40 billion) military procurement plan over eight years, fueling regional tensions.

"In contrast, Xi repeatedly emphasized the importance of peaceful development during the talks," Zhang said, adding, "Cheng's visit introduces a stabilizing factor into strained cross-Strait relations, helping safeguard regional stability."

Tangible benefits for people in Taiwan

Cheng's mainland trip has drawn widespread attention in Taiwan, with analysts suggesting it could bring tangible benefits to the people.

Her six-day itinerary included a visit to Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum in Nanjing, as well as stops in Shanghai to observe the country's domestically developed commercial aircraft, the automated Yangshan Port and emerging technologies such as drone-based delivery services. She is also scheduled to engage in educational and cultural exchanges in Beijing.

Xu said the visit allows Cheng to directly experience the mainland's economic vitality and development achievements over the past two decades while also demonstrating Beijing's "goodwill, sincerity and capacity" to advance peaceful cross-Strait relations and shared national rejuvenation.

He added that Cheng's decision to proceed with the visit despite political obstacles could help ease tensions and deliver "peace dividends" to people in Taiwan, and expanded exchanges will also generate broader long-term benefits for them.

Analysts in Taiwan have also pointed to a gap between political tensions and public expectations. Chao Chien-min, a professor at Chinese Culture University in Taiwan and former deputy head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, has noted that while the mainland is making rapid advances in fields such as renewable energy and technology such as AI, cross-Strait exchanges have sharply declined due to political interference, contrary to public hopes for engagement.

Zhang agreed that peaceful development and cooperation remain the mainstream view in Taiwan. "In today's turbulent international environment, no one wants conflict," he said.

He highlighted Xi's "three welcomes" – welcoming Taiwan compatriots to visit the mainland, welcoming youth exchanges and welcoming Taiwan's agricultural and fishery products to enter the mainland market – as concrete measures responding to public expectations. He said the "three welcomes" signal broad opportunities for future cooperation.

The participation of the head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner, in the meeting was also seen as a positive signal for Taiwan businesses. Zhang noted that the mainland's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) for national economic and social development – formulated and driven largely by the NDRC – offers significant opportunities for Taiwan enterprises and is expected to deliver tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan.