Xi meets KMT leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing

This meeting took place within the framework of the “One China” principle, with both sides defining the encounter as a party-to-party interaction. Accordingly, the official press release carried the title “General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Meets with Chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang.”

Some observations:

Beijing’s first point centres on the question of identity. The line “differences in social systems are not a pretext for separatism” is a direct rebuttal of Taipei’s argument, which the authorities in Taipei frame as a binary opposition of “democracy vs authoritarianism” based on political system differences. Beijing’s implicit rejoinder is that institutional arrangements are a secondary matter open to discussion; the more fundamental and non-negotiable question is one of identity: are you Chinese or not?

The second point reiterates the mainland’s standing opposition to “Taiwan independence.” The formulation “Taiwan independence is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait — we will absolutely not condone or tolerate it,” with its double negative and emphatic register, serves a dual purpose: it is simultaneously a reaffirmation of Beijing’s long-held position. It’s also an effort to bring the KMT to publicly commit to and formally endorse an anti-”Taiwan independence” stance.

Compared to the first two points, the third is notably softer in tone, with an emphasis on people-to-people exchanges. The line “the mainland motherland is blessed with magnificent landscapes and a vast market — Taiwan compatriots are always welcome to come home” carries a clear policy subtext: it is a direct response to the Taipei authorities’ ban on travel agencies in Taiwan operating group tour packages to the mainland. The implicit message is that the mainland welcomes free cross-strait movement, and that the barriers to such movement originate in Taipei, not Beijing.

Other details worth noting:

The phrase “firmly keeping the future of cross-strait relations in the hands of the Chinese people themselves” functions, I would argue, as a warning directed at certain factions within the KMT. At a moment of sustained instability in US-China relations, Beijing is signaling that Taiwan Strait affairs must not be driven by outside forces. By delivering this message through the KMT, Beijing is effectively transmitting a signal to Taiwan’s broader society that external backers are unreliable, and the only viable path forward is for the two sides to negotiate among themselves.

The resonance between the two parties on the figure of Sun Yat-sen reflects two underlying logics. The first is historical: the First United Front between the KMT and the CPC was forged under Sun Yat-sen’s leadership. Sun is at once the spiritual founding father of the KMT and a revolutionary precursor recognized within the PRC’s own official narrative, making him the single most effective historical common ground between the two parties. The second is that, as Chiang Kai-shek’s historical image in Taiwan has grown increasingly negative over time, the KMT has come to rely more heavily on invoking Sun Yat-sen’s vision of “revitalizing China and achieving national reunification” to construct and maintain its own historical legitimacy.

Below is the transcript I made with the help of AI:

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General Secretary Xi Jinping Meets with Chinese Kuomintang Chairperson Cheng Li-wun

Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Others Attend the Meeting

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 10 — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping met on the morning of April 10 in Beijing with the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) delegation led by Chairperson Cheng Li-wun.

Xi Jinping extended a welcome to Cheng Li-wun and her delegation. He noted that the meeting between the leaders of the CPC and the KMT — for the first time in ten years — carries significant importance for the development of relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait. People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same Chinese nation. The people of all ethnic groups, including Taiwan compatriots, have together founded a unified multi-ethnic state, jointly written a glorious Chinese history, together created a splendid Chinese civilisation, and collectively cultivated a great national spirit. They have also forged the shared conviction that national territory must not be divided, the country must not be thrown into chaos, the nation must not be fragmented, and civilization must not be severed — a conviction that has guided the Chinese nation in its endless self-improvement and ensured the unbroken continuity of Chinese civilization.

Xi Jinping stressed that no matter how the international situation or the situation across the Taiwan Strait may change, the great trend of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, nor will the great tide of compatriots on both sides of the strait drawing closer together and uniting. Compatriots on both sides of the strait all hope for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, hope for improvement and development in cross-strait relations, and hope for better lives — this is an inescapable responsibility of both the CPC and the KMT, and also the driving force for their joint cooperation. We are willing, on the common political foundation of upholding the “1992 Consensus” and opposing “Taiwan independence,” to work together with political parties, organizations, and people from all walks of life in Taiwan, including the KMT, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, strive for peace across the strait, promote the well-being of compatriots, and work toward national rejuvenation — firmly keeping the future of cross-strait relations in the hands of the Chinese people themselves.

Xi Jinping put forward four points on the development of cross-strait relations.

First, uphold correct identity to foster a meeting of hearts and minds. Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same roots and origins, the same culture and ethnicity, and are bound together by blood — they form a community with a shared destiny, united in times of both joy and hardship. Among family members, as long as there is open communication and a willingness to consult on matters together, no differences or disagreements are beyond resolution. Differences in social systems are not a pretext for separatism. The CPC and the KMT, and compatriots on both sides of the strait, must hold firm to their national standpoint, carry forward and promote Chinese culture, strengthen their identification with the Chinese nation, Chinese civilization, and the great motherland, and build the resolve, integrity, and confidence to stand as proud and dignified Chinese people.

Second, uphold peaceful development to safeguard the shared homeland. The mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China; China is the shared homeland of the Chinese nation. For compatriots on both sides of the strait to protect and build this shared homeland, the fundamental requirement is to uphold the “1992 Consensus” and oppose “Taiwan independence,” with the core being the recognition that both sides of the strait belong to one China. When a family lives in harmony, all things prosper. Any proposal that benefits the peaceful development of cross-strait relations is welcome, and anything that serves the peaceful development of cross-strait relations we will make every effort to pursue. “Taiwan independence” is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait — we will absolutely not condone or tolerate it. The CPC and the KMT, and compatriots on both sides of the strait, must uphold the greater good of the nation, oppose separatist “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference, promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and steadfastly protect the shared homeland of the Chinese nation.

Third, uphold exchanges and integration to enhance the people’s well-being. The goal of developing cross-strait relations is to enable compatriots on both sides of the strait to live better lives. We will continue to act in the spirit of the principle that people on both sides of the strait are one family, and actively do practical things, good things, and help resolve difficulties for Taiwan compatriots. The mainland motherland is blessed with magnificent landscapes and a vast market — Taiwan compatriots are always welcome to come home, Taiwan youth are welcome to come to the mainland for exchanges and development, and Taiwan agricultural and fishery products and quality goods are welcome into households across the mainland. The CPC and the KMT, and compatriots on both sides of the strait, should jointly expand cross-strait exchanges, interactions, and integration, and enhance the bonds and well-being of compatriots on both sides.

Fourth, uphold unity and determined effort to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, whose lifelong pursuits were the revitalization of China and national reunification. Today we have successfully forged the path of Chinese-style modernization, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is an unstoppable tide. We firmly believe that more and more Taiwan compatriots will come to correctly understand the mainland’s social system and development path, and deeply recognize that Taiwan’s future lies with a strong motherland, and that the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots are bound to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This year marks the opening year of the mainland’s 15th Five-Year Plan; we are willing to share development opportunities and achievements with compatriots in Taiwan and together strengthen the economy of the Chinese nation. The CPC and the KMT should consolidate political mutual trust, maintain positive interactions, unite compatriots on both sides of the strait, and work hand in hand to create a bright future of national reunification and national rejuvenation.

Cheng Li-wun stated that people on both sides of the strait are descendants of Yan and Huang, belong to the same Chinese nation, are nurtured by Chinese culture, are all Chinese — one family — and should rightly join hands to advance the revitalization of China as championed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The CPC and the KMT should uphold the common political foundation of the “1992 Consensus” and opposition to “Taiwan independence,” strengthen political mutual trust, play their role as a platform for communication, commit to preserving Chinese history and promoting Chinese culture, advance cross-strait exchanges and cooperation across civil society, grassroots, economic and trade, cultural, and other fields, support youth exchanges and development, enhance the common well-being of the people, promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, open up a bright future for cross-strait relations, and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and others attended the meeting.