Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun has announced plans to travel to China next week after receiving a formal invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit comes shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Xi in Beijing on May 14 – 15.
Cheng confirmed on Monday her intention to accept the invitation, stating that the visit will demonstrate the possibility of peaceful relations between Taiwan and China. She emphasized that all dialogue must rest on acceptance of the “1992 consensus” and explicit opposition to Taiwan’s independence.
Cheng’s election as KMT leader in October marked a shift toward deeper engagement with Beijing compared to her predecessor, Eric Chu, who did not visit China during his leadership from 2021. Cheng made her announcement after China’s Xinhua News Agency reported on the invitation, referencing statements by Song Tao, the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, who described the move as an effort to strengthen KMT-CCP relations and promote cross-strait peace.
While the Chinese government maintains it holds sovereignty over Taiwan and avoids contact with President Lai Ching-te’s administration, it regularly invites KMT leaders for exchanges.
The 1992 consensus, regarded by the KMT as a mutual understanding that both Taipei and Beijing acknowledge one China but can interpret the meaning separately, is cited as the basis for KMT-CCP communication.
The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) does not recognize the 1992 consensus, contending that Beijing’s stance leaves no space for interpretation favorable to Taiwan and could imply support for China’s territorial claims.
