The planned meeting between Cheng Li-wen and Xi Jinping could deepen political divisions and shape messaging ahead of possible U.S.–China talks, analysts say.
A planned meeting between Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wen and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is drawing mounting scrutiny in Taiwan, as analysts warn it could deepen political divisions in Taiwan while advancing Beijing’s efforts to shape cross-strait narratives ahead of high-stakes U.S.–China talks.
Cheng, chair of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), departed Taipei on April 7 for a five-day visit to China—the first such trip by a sitting KMT leader in a decade. The visit is expected to culminate in a closely watched meeting with Xi on April 10, an event widely referred to as the “Xi–Cheng meeting.”
A Politically Charged Visit
Even before Cheng’s departure, the trip had ignited protests. Pro-independence groups gathered at Taipei’s Songshan Airport, declaring that Cheng “cannot represent Taiwan” and warning that cross-strait peace is an international—not purely domestic—issue.
Taiwanese officials have also issued rare public cautions. Premier Cho Jung-tai warned that any exchanges with Beijing must not involve public authority or political agreements, while Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council cautioned the KMT against falling into Beijing’s “United Front” tactics, which seek to advance China’s interests abroad.
Taiwan is a self-governing island that has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, the CCP has escalated its threats to invade Taiwan. In Taiwan’s political spectrum, the KMT is frequently viewed as pro-Beijing.
Analysts say the optics—and structure—of the visit signal Beijing’s broader intentions.
Yu Tsung-chi, a former dean at Taiwan’s National Defense University, told The Epoch Times that the meeting is designed to elevate pro-China voices within Taiwan while sidelining the ruling government led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is pro-Taiwanese sovereignty.
“If the KMT can engage Beijing directly, bypassing the current DPP administration, it risks isolating Taiwan’s government while emboldening pro-China factions domestically,” Yu said.
He added that elements of the trip—such as Cheng flying on a Chinese airline and media access being routed through Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office—suggest Taiwan is being treated as a “domestic” matter, implicitly undermining its sovereignty.
DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu accused Beijing of using the meeting to promote its “One China” narrative, saying the outcome appears pre-scripted. “The real question,” he said, “is how Taiwan’s voters will respond to politicians echoing Beijing’s positions.”
Even some within the KMT have expressed unease. Sean Lien, a vice chairman of the KMT, urged Cheng to exercise caution, a remark widely interpreted as concern over potential political fallout.
Ming Chu-cheng, emeritus professor of political science at National Taiwan University, said on a panel discussion on the Chinese edition of NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times, on April 3, that dialogue with Beijing is not inherently problematic, but it depends on the terms.
He pointed out that the CCP uses “opposition to Taiwan independence” as a tool to divide Taiwan, so if anyone engages China on those terms without recognizing its strategy, it becomes counterproductive.
