Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the Chairman\nof Taiwan\u2019s Kuomintang (KMT) party, Eric Chu, in Beijing on Friday\n(10\/4), with one of the key discussion topics being the unification of\nthe two sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cPresident Xi Jinping emphasised that no matter the changes in the\ninternational landscape or the situation across the Taiwan Strait, the\ntrend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change,\nnor will the major trend towards closer ties between the people on both\nsides of the Strait,\u201d stated a report on the Chinese government media\nwebsite accessed by ANTARA in Beijing on Friday.<\/p>\n
Before meeting Xi Jinping in Beijing, Chu also visited Shanghai on\n8-9 April 2026 to witness developments in technology and industry in the\ncity.<\/p>\n
The meeting also marked the first encounter between leaders of the\nCommunist Party of China (CPC) and the KMT in 10 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all part of the\nChinese nation. Including the people of Taiwan, various ethnic groups\ntogether form a united multi-ethnic country, jointly writing a glorious\nhistory of China, creating a splendid Chinese civilisation, and forging\na great national spirit,\u201d Xi Jinping stated.<\/p>\n
In response to this claim, President Xi expressed a shared conviction\nthat territory must not be divided, the country must not be split, the\nnation must not be separated, and civilisation must not be severed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people on both sides of the Strait look forward to peace and\nstability in the Taiwan Strait, improvement and development of\ncross-strait relations, and better lives. This is an inescapable\nresponsibility for both parties and also a driving force for joint\ncooperation,\u201d Xi Jinping added.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government, according to President Xi, adheres to the\n\u201c1992 Consensus\u201d and opposes \u201cTaiwan independence\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether with various political parties, groups, and figures from\nTaiwan society, including the Kuomintang, we wish to strengthen\nexchanges and dialogue to achieve cross-strait peace, the well-being of\nthe people, national rejuvenation, and ensure that the future of\ncross-strait relations rests in the hands of the Chinese people\nthemselves,\u201d Xi Jinping explained.<\/p>\n
The 1992 Consensus is an understanding between the then-ruling KMT\nand the CPC on the principle of \u201cOne China\u201d while allowing room for\ndiffering interpretations. Meanwhile, Taiwan\u2019s current ruling party, the\nDemocratic Progressive Party (DPP), has consistently rejected the 1992\nConsensus, arguing that it undermines Taiwan\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n
The KMT is known to traditionally maintain warm relations with China.\nDuring the meeting, President Xi Jinping also outlined four points\nregarding cross-strait relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, adhere to the correct identity to strengthen unity. The\npeople on both sides of the Strait share the same roots, the same\nculture, and close blood ties, forming a community with a shared\nfuture,\u201d Xi Jinping stated. Differences in social systems, he added, are\nnot a reason for division.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth parties and the people on both sides of the Strait must adhere\nto the national position, inherit and develop Chinese culture, and\nstrengthen identity with the nation, culture, and country, thereby\nfostering confidence and pride as Chinese people,\u201d Xi Jinping added.<\/p>\n
Second, adhere to peaceful development to safeguard our shared home.\n\u201cThe people on both sides of the Strait must safeguard and build this\nshared home, which fundamentally lies in adhering to the \u20181992\nConsensus\u2019 and opposing \u2018Taiwan independence\u2019, with the core recognition\nthat both sides of the Strait belong to one China,\u201d Xi stated.<\/p>\n
President Xi described \u201cTaiwan independence\u201d as the primary cause of\ndisrupting peace in the Taiwan Strait and stated that it will not be\ntolerated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThird, adhere to dialogue and integration to enhance people\u2019s\nwell-being. The Chinese government will continue to uphold the principle\nof \u2018one family across the Strait\u2019 and actively provide tangible benefits\nto Taiwan\u2019s people,\u201d Xi said.<\/p>\n
Mainland China, Xi noted, has beautiful landscapes and a vast market,\nwelcoming Taiwan\u2019s people to visit frequently, encouraging Taiwan\u2019s\nyouth to come and develop on the mainland, and opening markets to\nhigh-quality agricultural, fisheries, and goods from Taiwan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFourth, adhere to unity and struggle to achieve the great\nrejuvenation of the Chinese nation. More and more people in Taiwan will\nunderstand the mainland\u2019s social system and development path, and\nrealise that Taiwan\u2019s future is linked to the rejuvenation of the\nChinese nation,\u201d Xi stated.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Eric Chu stated that the people on both sides of the\nStrait are descendants and part of the Chinese nation, influenced by the\nsame culture and forming one family.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, both sides should cooperate and must adhere to the \u20181992\nConsensus\u2019 and oppose \u2018Taiwan independence\u2019, strengthen political trust,\nleverage communication channels, preserve Chinese history and culture,\npromote cooperation in various fields, and advance the peaceful\ndevelopment of cross-strait relations,\u201d Chu said in the report.<\/p>\n
The visit precedes local elections in Taiwan scheduled for the end of\nthis year and is seen as potentially influencing the subsequent\npresidential election in 2028.<\/p>\n
Eric Chu himself is a former talk show host and former DPP member. He\nwas elected as KMT chairman at the end of 2025, where the KMT currently\nholds a majority of seats in Taiwan\u2019s parliament.<\/p>\n
Chu\u2019s visit comes a few months after the KMT blocked a defence budget\nof 57 billion US dollars that would have allowed Taipei to purchase US\nweapons to defend against any potential invasion by China. The KMT did\nnot support the package, arguing that Taiwan could not afford it.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government itself describes Taiwan\u2019s current leader, Lai\nChing-te, as a \u201cseparatist\u201d who seeks \u201cTaiwan independence\u201d.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-president-meets-taiwan-opposition-leader-emphasises-unification-1775818318", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }