Taiwan: Xi Jinping hardens his stance and rules out any independence during a meeting with the opposition

The Chinese president Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China would "absolutely not" tolerate Taiwan's independence, during a meeting with a major Taiwanese opposition figure visiting Beijing.

This statement was made during a meeting with Cheng Li-wun, president of the Kuomintang (KMT), the island's main opposition party. She is on a trip described as a "peace mission" aimed at reducing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Xi Jinping called for intensified efforts toward "reunification," implicitly accusing the current Taiwanese authorities of being responsible for the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Beijing still refuses to engage in dialogue with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who comes from a political camp that favors asserting Taiwanese identity, further complicating any prospect of official negotiations.

This meeting comes amid increased military pressure from China around the island, with regular maneuvers aimed at demonstrating its deterrent capability.

Cheng Li-wun's trip, however, underlines the existence of alternative channels for dialogue, with Beijing favoring exchanges with the Taiwanese opposition, which is considered more open to rapprochement.

The question of Taiwan's status remains one of the main points of tension in Asia, with major implications for regional stability and international relations.

Xi Jinping's remarks confirm Beijing's hard line, which excludes any form of independence and continues to favour reunification, through diplomatic or military pressure if necessary.