Xi Meets KMT Leader in Beijing as Beijing Pushes Peace Narrative Ahead of Trump Summit

Cross-Strait Dialogue and Strategic Implications

Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s meeting with Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) chair Cheng Li-wun in Beijing occurred amid heightened U.S.-China tensions. The dialogue, the first high-level exchange between the two sides in over a decade, took place ahead of Xi‘s planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in May 2026. Analysts suggest the meeting aimed to influence Trump‘s stance on Taiwan’s defense while reinforcing Beijing‘s narrative of peaceful unification. Cheng, leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, emphasized institutional approaches to avoid conflict, aligning with the KMT‘s pro-China position. This engagement reflects Beijing‘s dual-track strategy of economic incentives and military pressure to deter Taiwan independence, while shaping domestic Taiwanese politics ahead of U.S. involvement.

KMT’s Pro-China Stance and Political Context

The KMT, which holds a legislative majority in Taiwan following the 2024 elections, has historically advocated for closer ties with China. Its leader, Cheng, has publicly opposed Taiwan’s current ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which rejects Beijing‘s sovereignty claims. The KMT‘s pro-Beijing stance enables cross-strait dialogue, contrasting with the DPP‘s one China, one Taiwan policy. Xi‘s invitation to Cheng signals Beijing‘s effort to leverage the KMT‘s influence to counter the DPP‘s pro-independence rhetoric. However, no explicit commitments were made during the meeting, and analysts note that while Beijing may use the peace narrative to pressure Trump, the KMT‘s strategic role in Taiwan‘s political landscape remains critical.

U.S. Response and Policy Tensions

Xi’s outreach to the KMT is part of a broader strategy to shape U.S. policy on Taiwan ahead of the Trump summit. Beijing has long viewed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan as destabilizing, and the $40 billion defense spending plan proposed by Washington has faced resistance from the KMT-led legislature. By engaging the KMT, Beijing seeks to counter the DPP‘s pro-independence stance, potentially weakening pro-U.S. voices in Taiwan. This aligns with Xi‘s dual-track strategy, which combines economic inducements, such as recent energy stability offers, with military pressure, including frequent warplane incursions and live-fire drills near Taiwan. The goal is to deter Taiwan from pursuing independence while maintaining the status quo.

Taiwan’s Security and Military Dynamics

The U.S. response to Beijing‘s actions has been firm, with the State Department criticizing China‘s military activities and reaffirming its commitment to Taiwan‘s security. Trump‘s campaign rhetoric on Taiwan‘s chip industry and defense spending has drawn criticism, though a deal to boost U.S. semiconductor investments in Taiwan was reached in February 2026. Analysts suggest Xi‘s peace message is a calculated move to test U.S. red lines, particularly regarding arms sales. By framing the KMT as a peace advocate, Beijing may seek to pressure Trump into a more restrained approach, while reinforcing its narrative of non-coercive unification. The summit’s outcome will hinge on how both sides balance these competing interests.

Economic Leverage and Domestic Politics

Taiwan’s security environment remains tense, with Beijing intensifying military drills around the island and the U.S. pushing for increased defense spending. Since Cheng‘s departure from Beijing, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported 15 aircraft sorties and 24 naval vessels near the island, underscoring ongoing military pressure. These actions are part of Beijing‘s strategy to deter Taiwan from pursuing independence while testing U.S. commitments to Taiwan’s defense. The KMT‘s opposition to the $40 billion defense spending plan, which includes potential U.S. arms purchases, highlights domestic political challenges in Taiwan. Beijing has criticized the arms deal as destabilizing, but Taiwan’s reliance on American weapons for defense complicates the situation.

Beijing’s Influence and Taiwan’s Energy Sector

Economically, Beijing has sought to leverage its influence over Taiwan‘s energy sector, offering stability in exchange for accepting its rule. This approach is part of a broader effort to shape Taiwan‘s domestic policies and reduce its dependence on the U.S. However, Taiwanese officials have labeled these overtures as ‘cognitive warfare’, suggesting they are more about ideological influence than economic cooperation. The KMT‘s pro-China stance could shift Taiwan‘s economic priorities toward closer ties with Beijing, though the party’s ability to navigate these pressures will depend on balancing economic interests with political realities.

Policy Continuity and U.S. Influence

According to the Brookings Institution, Xi‘s approach to cross-strait relations reflects policy continuity rather than radical shifts. The institution notes that Beijing‘s strategy has long focused on maintaining the status quo through a combination of economic incentives and military deterrence. This framework is evident in the current outreach to the KMT, which aligns with historical patterns of engaging pro-Beijing factions to counter pro-independence movements. The Brookings report also highlights the importance of U.S. policy in shaping cross-strait relations, emphasizing that Washington‘s stance on Taiwan’s defense and sovereignty will remain a critical factor in Beijing‘s calculations.

U.S.-China Tensions and Taiwan’s Sovereignty

China’s Foreign Ministry has consistently criticized U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, framing them as destabilizing to regional security. This criticism is particularly relevant given the proposed $40 billion defense spending plan, which includes potential U.S. arms purchases. Beijing views such deals as provocative, arguing they undermine its sovereignty claims over Taiwan. The KMT‘s opposition to the plan reflects its alignment with Beijing‘s position, though the DPP has rejected these arguments, emphasizing Taiwan‘s right to self-defense. The U.S. State Department has defended the arms sales as necessary for Taiwan‘s security, but Beijing‘s stance remains firm, viewing any support for Taiwan‘s defense capabilities as a threat to its territorial integrity.

Strategic Shifts and Geopolitical Uncertainty

The meeting between Xi and Cheng represents a significant shift in cross-strait dynamics, reflecting Beijing‘s strategic patience and the KMT‘s growing influence in Taiwan‘s politics. While the ‘peace’ message is framed as a gesture of goodwill, it also serves as a tool to pressure the U.S. and shape Taiwan‘s domestic agenda. The outcome of the Xi–Trump summit will likely determine the trajectory of U.S.–China–Taiwan relations in the coming years. If Beijing succeeds in marginalizing the DPP and strengthening the KMT‘s pro-unification stance, it could pave the way for a more cooperative approach to cross-strait relations. However, the risk of miscalculation remains high, given the volatile nature of the Taiwan Strait and the competing interests of all parties involved.