China's Leader Meets Taiwan Opposition Ahead of Key Trump Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds surprise meeting with Taiwan's opposition leader, raising concerns that Beijing seeks to undermine Taiwanese democracy.
China's President Xi Jinping met with the leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, Cheng Li-wun, in a surprise move ahead of a key summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two leaders agreed to pursue peace, but Taiwan's ruling party has expressed concerns that the meeting could enable Beijing to undermine Taiwan's democracy.
The unexpected meeting comes as tensions between China and Taiwan remain high, with Beijing claiming the self-governing island as part of its territory. Xi and Cheng discussed the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, according to state media reports. However, Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has accused the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party of colluding with Beijing to undermine the island's sovereignty.
The China-Taiwan relationship will be a major topic of discussion when Trump meets with Xi in the coming weeks. The U.S. has long maintained a delicate balance, recognizing China's 'one China' policy while also supporting Taiwan's de facto independence. Analysts say Trump may seek to leverage the Taiwan issue in trade negotiations with Beijing.
Source: NPR
