Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s Nationalist Party, in Beijing on Friday, signaling efforts to sway Taiwan’s political landscape ahead of a high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The rare encounter aimed to frame Beijing as a peace broker while pressuring Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, who advocates closer ties with Washington. Cheng, the first Nationalist Party leader in a decade to engage Xi, praised his vision of shared national rejuvenation, aligning Taipei’s opposition with Beijing’s territorial claims.

The meeting underscores China’s strategy to isolate Lai by fostering divisions within Taiwan’s leadership. By bolstering relations with the Nationalist Party—a faction favoring cross-strait unity—Beijing seeks to undermine Taiwan’s push for de facto independence and reduce reliance on U.S. security guarantees. This diplomatic maneuver amplifies tensions as Washington grapples with balancing alliances in an increasingly volatile Indo-Pacific region.

The outcome of these talks could shape Taiwan’s future, with implications for U.S.-China relations and regional stability. Xi’s message is clear: Taiwan’s destiny lies with Beijing, not Washington..