The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People, comes as Beijing increases military and political pressure on Taiwan, which it claims as its territory. Cheng is visiting China on what she described as a “peace mission” aimed at reducing tensions.

Xi reiterated Beijing’s long-standing “One China” position, stating that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one nation and calling Taiwan independence the “chief culprit” undermining regional stability.

He urged collaboration between China’s Communist Party and Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang to promote national reunification.Cheng said she hoped to foster mutually beneficial relations and expand exchanges, adding that dialogue could help prevent the Taiwan Strait from becoming a flashpoint for international conflict.

Taiwan’s government rejected Beijing’s stance, with top policymaker Chiu Chui-cheng saying only Taiwan’s people could determine the island’s future and calling on China to engage with its democratically elected leadership.

Beijing has refused to hold talks with President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a separatist. The current divide traces back to 1949, when rival governments split after China’s civil war, with each side maintaining separate political systems.

Cheng, chair of the Kuomintang (KMT), is scheduled to visit China from April 7 to 12 and may meet Xi Jinping, though Beijing has not confirmed such talks. Speaking before departure in Taipei, she said the trip aimed to reduce tensions and prevent conflict, calling it a “historic journey for peace.

”The visit comes amid heightened military pressure from China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. Beijing has also refused formal engagement with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a separatist.

Taiwanese officials said Chinese naval activity around the island remains elevated. Kuan Bi-ling reported multiple warships positioned off Taiwan’s coasts, including deployments to the east, north, northwest and southwest, underscoring what authorities described as sustained military pressure.

Separately, Chiu Chui-cheng urged Beijing to engage with Taiwan’s elected government and called on Cheng to press Chinese authorities to halt military activities, including air and naval operations near the island.

The trip takes place ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi in Beijing, where Taiwan is expected to feature among key issues alongside trade.Cheng’s itinerary includes stops in Shanghai and Nanjing, where she is expected to visit the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China.

The visit marks the first by a KMT leader to China in a decade, reflecting renewed political outreach despite ongoing cross-strait tensions.

Speaking at the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Taipei, Cheng said her party’s long-standing ties with the United States would remain intact even as it seeks closer engagement with mainland China. “There is no contradiction between the two, and there is no need to choose one over the other,” she said, rejecting criticism that outreach to Beijing would weaken relations with Washington.

Cheng, a former lawmaker who became KMT chair in October, has signalled a stronger push for engagement with Beijing compared to her predecessor Eric Chu, who did not visit China during his tenure starting in 2021. She has expressed interest in meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, though she did not provide details on any potential timeline.

China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has refused to engage with the government of President Lai Ching-te, whom it labels a separatist. However, Beijing has maintained contacts with senior KMT figures, underscoring the party’s role as an alternative channel for cross-strait communication.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has criticised the KMT’s approach, accusing it of undermining Taiwan’s democracy and aligning too closely with Beijing. Cheng rejected those claims, saying her party supports arms purchases from the United States, though she emphasised that such spending must be carefully evaluated.

The KMT, alongside the smaller Taiwan People’s Party, holds a parliamentary majority, allowing it to influence defence budgets and legislative priorities, including measures related to security cooperation with Washington.

Taiwan’s political parties are preparing for mayoral and county chief elections in November, seen as a key indicator of public sentiment ahead of the 2028 presidential race. Analysts say cross-strait policy and defence spending are likely to remain central campaign issues.

China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control, keeping geopolitical risks elevated in the region.