Xi Jinping and Taiwan's Opposition Leader Meet Amidst Rising Tensions

• Xi Jinping met with Kuomintang party chair Cheng Li-wun, the first meeting in nearly a decade between Xi and a sitting Taiwanese opposition leader.
• Xi reiterated that "'Taiwan independence' is the primary threat undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait," and called for opposition to "separatism and foreign interference."
• Cheng's trip to Beijing comes as the KMT seeks to position itself as a viable interlocutor with the mainland ahead of Taiwan's 2028 presidential election.
• Analysts suggest the meeting signals Beijing's preference for a peaceful approach to cross-strait relations, emphasizing shared cultural identity and the "One China" principle.

A Tremendous Meeting, Really Tremendous

Let me tell you, this Xi Jinping, he's a tough cookie, a real dealmaker, but I know how to handle him. He met with this Cheng Li-wun, from Taiwan’s opposition party. First time in a long time, folks. They’re talking, which is good. Talking is always good, even if they’re probably saying things I wouldn’t, things I’d never say. But hey, at least they are not fighting. And when I'm President, ain't nobody fighting. Peace through strength. That's what I always say. Nobody was ever meaner than me but I got it all done.

Taiwan Independence: A Big, Fat Loser

Xi made it clear, and I respect this, he said, "Taiwan independence is the primary threat." He's not wrong. You can't just go around declaring independence. It's like saying you're going to build a wall and then not building it. Oh wait, I built that wall. A beautiful wall. The best wall. China wants to avoid military conflict and what that means is they also need to avoid situations that are perceived to be escalatory. For another take on managing risk and stability, take a look at Germany Puts the Brakes on Gas Price Gouging One Fill-Up at a Time.

The Art of the Deal: Cross-Strait Edition

This Cheng woman, she’s trying to play both sides. She wants to talk to China, which is fine. But she also wants to be tough. She wants to buy time. She says her trip is part of a strategy of "deterrence through dialogue." Sounds like something I would say, to be honest. Except I’d say it better. Much better. Believe me. And she is the leader of opposition party, and if they return to power in 2028, then they are ready to get back into tourism and political engagement.

The One China Policy: We'll See What Happens

They keep talking about this “One China” thing. Look, nobody knows what that even means. I'm going to be honest. It's all very complicated, a very difficult situation. I know more about China than anyone. And I know more about Taiwan. And trust me, nobody has had a better relationship with China than me. And what is great is that everyone knows it.

The Military Angle: Not a Pretty Picture for Some

The Taiwan party is stalling on that $40 billion defense budget. They are not ready to spend and not ready to protect themselves. Sad! That's a lot of money. You need a strong military. You need to be feared. If you're not feared, nobody respects you. I know a lot about being feared. People don’t want to mess with someone who’s strong. We need to let the Taiwanese people protect themselves. Because we are at the point that we will not protect them anymore.

My Visit to China: They're Waiting For Me

I’m going to China in May. I’ll meet with Xi. We'll talk trade, fentanyl, and yeah, probably Taiwan too. He'll try to play tough, but I’m tougher. Nobody can make a deal like I can. He knows it. Everyone knows it. I'll straighten this whole thing out. It's going to be beautiful. It's going to be great. It's going to be tremendous.