Zheng-Xi Meeting Discusses Taiwan's International Space; MAC: Suzerain Model Unhelpful
Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen met with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss increasing Taiwan's international space. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed concern, stating that a 'suzerain state model' led by the CCP would only lead to more suppression and be unhelpful for Taiwan. MAC officials criticized Cheng for not conveying the Taiwanese people's demands and for seemingly endorsing the 'internalization' of cross-strait issues.
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- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 21:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:17 (2h 46m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 19:07 (114h 49m after Collected)
Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen met with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping at 11 AM today in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and both delivered public speeches. Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng and Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh held a press conference at 6 PM to respond.
Media focused on Cheng Li-wen's proposal to 'increase Taiwan's international activity space through political mutual trust.' Chiu Chui-cheng stated that if international participation is a 'suzerain state model' led by the CCP, it will only bring more suppression and be 'unhelpful' to Taiwan.
Liang Wen-chieh said that Taiwan has learned a lot in the past 20 years, such as during President Ma Ying-jeou's era, Taiwan once joined the World Health Assembly and was allowed to attend some international organizations, but as long as the CCP was dissatisfied with Taiwan's political situation, or Taiwan changed a leader, it would be suspended at any time.
'We don't have high expectations for what stable role Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen can play.' Liang Wen-chieh emphasized that the CCP's goodwill cannot be expected to be continuous; to maintain it, one must accept ideological, speech, and behavioral censorship, which is not what Taiwanese people want.
In addition, after the Zheng-Xi meeting, mainland China might offer preferential policies or a 'big gift package' to Taiwan, such as expanding imports of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, offering concessions, or opening up tourism. Chiu Chui-cheng pointed out that these are highly politically manipulative, and past experience shows that relevant policies can be withdrawn at any time.
Liang Wen-chieh also pointed out that after 2005, China offered preferential treatment for Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, but then suspended it due to political factors, harming farmers and fishermen. This kind of policy reversal turns investment into risk, even forming a 'raise, trap, kill' situation. The government does not want to repeat the same mistakes and will remind industries not to over-rely.
Liang Wen-chieh mentioned that the MAC repeatedly asked Cheng Li-wen to present three major demands of the Taiwanese people to Xi Jinping: first, to face the existence of the Republic of China; second, to respect the will of the Taiwanese people; and third, to stop military aircraft and vessel harassment against Taiwan. However, 'it is regrettable that Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen did not mention any of these, but instead repeatedly echoed the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, that both sides of the strait are Chinese, and internalized the cross-strait issue.'
He said that from the MAC's perspective, Cheng Li-wen not only failed to play a stabilizing role in cross-strait relations but instead allowed the CCP's main propaganda to spread more unscrupulously and sent wrong messages to the international community. In particular, the mention of 'opposing external forces' at the Zheng-Xi meeting is equivalent to treating the cross-strait issue as an internal Chinese matter and isolating Taiwan.
Liang Wen-chieh said that if this happens, China can block external assistance internationally. This will also affect other countries' support for Taiwan, including arms sales, 'we are very worried about this.' (Editor: Yang Sheng-ru) 1150410
Media focused on Cheng Li-wen's proposal to 'increase Taiwan's international activity space through political mutual trust.' Chiu Chui-cheng stated that if international participation is a 'suzerain state model' led by the CCP, it will only bring more suppression and be 'unhelpful' to Taiwan.
Liang Wen-chieh said that Taiwan has learned a lot in the past 20 years, such as during President Ma Ying-jeou's era, Taiwan once joined the World Health Assembly and was allowed to attend some international organizations, but as long as the CCP was dissatisfied with Taiwan's political situation, or Taiwan changed a leader, it would be suspended at any time.
'We don't have high expectations for what stable role Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen can play.' Liang Wen-chieh emphasized that the CCP's goodwill cannot be expected to be continuous; to maintain it, one must accept ideological, speech, and behavioral censorship, which is not what Taiwanese people want.
In addition, after the Zheng-Xi meeting, mainland China might offer preferential policies or a 'big gift package' to Taiwan, such as expanding imports of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, offering concessions, or opening up tourism. Chiu Chui-cheng pointed out that these are highly politically manipulative, and past experience shows that relevant policies can be withdrawn at any time.
Liang Wen-chieh also pointed out that after 2005, China offered preferential treatment for Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products, but then suspended it due to political factors, harming farmers and fishermen. This kind of policy reversal turns investment into risk, even forming a 'raise, trap, kill' situation. The government does not want to repeat the same mistakes and will remind industries not to over-rely.
Liang Wen-chieh mentioned that the MAC repeatedly asked Cheng Li-wen to present three major demands of the Taiwanese people to Xi Jinping: first, to face the existence of the Republic of China; second, to respect the will of the Taiwanese people; and third, to stop military aircraft and vessel harassment against Taiwan. However, 'it is regrettable that Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen did not mention any of these, but instead repeatedly echoed the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, that both sides of the strait are Chinese, and internalized the cross-strait issue.'
He said that from the MAC's perspective, Cheng Li-wen not only failed to play a stabilizing role in cross-strait relations but instead allowed the CCP's main propaganda to spread more unscrupulously and sent wrong messages to the international community. In particular, the mention of 'opposing external forces' at the Zheng-Xi meeting is equivalent to treating the cross-strait issue as an internal Chinese matter and isolating Taiwan.
Liang Wen-chieh said that if this happens, China can block external assistance internationally. This will also affect other countries' support for Taiwan, including arms sales, 'we are very worried about this.' (Editor: Yang Sheng-ru) 1150410
FAQ
What were the three major demands of the Taiwanese people that the MAC asked Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen to convey to General Secretary Xi Jinping during the Zheng-Xi meeting?
The MAC asked Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen to convey three major demands: to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China, to respect the will of the Taiwanese people, and to stop military harassment against Taiwan. However, Cheng Li-wen did not mention these demands.
How does the MAC view the preferential policies from mainland China after the Zheng-Xi meeting?
The MAC views these policies as highly politically manipulative, noting that past experience shows they can be withdrawn at any time. They also warned against over-reliance, citing instances where farmers and fishermen were harmed due to political factors.