Xi Meets Taiwan KMT Leader in Beijing as Opposition Blocks $40 Billion Defense Budget Ahead of Possible Trump Summit
Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted KMT chair Cheng Li‑wun at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on April 10, 2026 — the first official meeting between sitting CCP and KMT heads in nearly a decade — where Xi framed Taiwan’s future as tied to a “strong motherland” and Cheng called the visit a “peace mission,” affirming that both sides “belong to one China.” Meanwhile in Taipei, President Lai has sought an eight‑year, $40 billion special defense package that a KMT‑led legislative majority has delayed and trimmed, raising concerns that failure to approve the funding ahead of a possible mid‑May Xi‑Trump summit could affect U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
📌 Key Facts
- Chinese leader Xi Jinping met KMT chair Cheng Li‑wun in Beijing on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Great Hall of the People — the first official meeting between sitting heads of the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang in almost a decade.
- Xi reiterated that Taiwan is an 'inalienable' and 'inseparable' part of China, telling Cheng Taiwan’s 'development prospects hinge on a strong motherland' and framing Taiwan’s future as tied to the 'great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation'; Cheng echoed similar language.
- Cheng framed her trip as a 'peace mission,' affirmed that both sides of the Taiwan Strait 'belong to one China' while opposing formal independence, and has promoted the idea that 'Taiwan doesn’t have to choose' between China and the U.S.
- Analysts say Cheng is leveraging Taiwanese anxiety about relations with a Trump administration to argue Taiwan can 'hedge' between Beijing and Washington, a position Beijing appears to be encouraging.
- Xi is expected to press opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan at a possible mid‑May summit with President Donald Trump, linking his outreach to KMT leaders with his U.S. agenda.
- Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te has requested an eight‑year, $40 billion special defense package (including U.S. arms) to deter a Chinese invasion; Taiwan’s KMT‑led legislative opposition is delaying or blocking the bill and has proposed a much smaller amount.
- There are concerns in Taiwan that if the special defense budget is not approved before the possible May Xi‑Trump meeting, Trump’s willingness to sell weapons to Taiwan could change depending on any deal he strikes with Xi.
- U.S. visitors and lawmakers have weighed in: Sen. Jim Banks recently visited Taipei and explicitly tied approval of the $40 billion package to demonstrating Taiwan’s willingness to invest in its own defense and to the principle of 'peace through strength.'
- An April survey showed the KMT has under one‑third public support in Taiwan, underscoring that Beijing is courting a relatively weak opposition party to shape Taiwan policy.
📊 Relevant Data
In a 2026 poll by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, 53.9% of respondents supported increasing Taiwan's defense spending to 3% of GDP, with support varying by age group; for example, younger cohorts (under 30) showed 48% support, while those over 60 had 62% support.
Poll finds most Taiwanese willing to resist Chinese invasion — Taiwan News
According to a 2024 Pew Research survey, 67% of Taiwanese identify primarily as Taiwanese, 3% as primarily Chinese, and 28% as both, with younger adults (18-29) more likely to identify as both (35%) compared to those 50+ (22%).
In Taiwan, most identify as Taiwanese, few as primarily Chinese — Pew Research Center
China's military strength significantly outpaces Taiwan's in 2026, with China having 2,035,000 active personnel compared to Taiwan's 215,000, 3,160 tanks vs Taiwan's 1,010, and 3,304 aircraft vs Taiwan's 650.
Comparison of China and Taiwan Military Strengths (2026) — Global Firepower
Taiwan's economy is highly dependent on trade with China, with exports to China accounting for approximately 35-40% of Taiwan's total exports in 2025, driven by sectors like electronics and semiconductors.
Taiwan: Seeking growth in an uneasy (geo)political environment — Allianz Trade
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that Xi Jinping and KMT chair Cheng Li‑wun met in Beijing on April 10, 2026, with Xi repeating that Taiwan is an 'inalienable' and 'inseparable' part of China.
- Details that Taiwan’s opposition coalition is currently blocking President Lai Ching‑te’s proposed $40 billion special defense budget in parliament.
- Reports Sen. Jim Banks’ recent visit to Taipei, where he explicitly tied approval of the $40 billion package to demonstrating Taiwan’s willingness to invest in its own defense and 'peace through strength.'
- Notes concerns in Taiwan that if the special budget is not approved soon, President Donald Trump’s willingness to sell weapons to Taiwan could change if he strikes a deal with Xi at a possible May meeting.
- Quotes KMT chair Cheng echoing Xi’s 'rejuvenation of the Chinese nation' framing and saying 'the great Chinese rejuvenation involves people on both sides of the strait,' language likely to be controversial in Taiwan.
- Confirms the meeting took place Friday, April 10, 2026, at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People and that it is the first official meeting between sitting heads of the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang in almost a decade.
- Details Xi’s message via Xinhua that Taiwan’s ‘development prospects hinge on a strong motherland’ and that he expects more Taiwanese to see their interests tied to the ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,’ directly framing Taiwan’s future as dependent on China.
- Reports that Xi is expected to raise opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan at the mid‑May summit with President Donald Trump in Beijing, tying this outreach to KMT leaders to his U.S. agenda.
- Quotes KMT chair Cheng Li-wun affirming that both sides of the Taiwan Strait ‘belong to one China’ while opposing formal Taiwanese independence, and calling her trip a ‘peace mission’ to show dialogue with Beijing is possible.
- Cites an April survey showing the KMT has less than one‑third public support in Taiwan, underscoring that Beijing is courting a relatively weak opposition party to shape Taiwan policy.
- Highlights analysis from George Yin of National Taiwan University that Cheng is leveraging rising anxiety about working with Trump’s Washington to argue Taiwan can ‘hedge’ and not choose definitively between China and the U.S.
- Reports that Taiwan President Lai has requested an eight‑year, $40 billion special defense package—including U.S. arms—to deter a Chinese invasion, and that the KMT legislative majority has delayed the bill and proposed a far smaller amount.
- Notes that Cheng has spent months publicly seeking a meeting with Xi and promoting the line that ‘Taiwan doesn’t have to choose’ between China and the U.S., which analysts say Xi wants to pull closer to Beijing’s preferred framing.