KMT vice-chair tells Beijing that cross-strait ties are 'not state-to-state'
Primary region China
Tags Diplomacy
Regions China · Asia
KMT Vice-Chairman Chang Rong-kung met with China's top Taiwan affairs official Wang Huning at the Third Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit in Beijing on May 11, declaring that cross-strait relations are 'not state-to-state' under the existing legal framework. Chang proposed three foundations for cross-strait peace: Chinese culture, the one-China legal framework, and shared historical memory. Wang Huning said the summit showcases the shared belief that 'territory must not be divided.' The meeting precedes the Trump-Xi summit where Taiwan is a top agenda item.
Strategic interpretation
Chang's explicit adoption of Beijing's 'not state-to-state' framing is a significant rhetorical concession that may draw criticism from Taiwan's ruling DPP. The timing ahead of the Trump-Xi summit suggests coordination between Beijing and the KMT to present a unified narrative on cross-strait relations during a period of heightened US-China engagement.