Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-xi-calls-reunification-message-new-taiwan-opposition-leader-2025-10-19/
Chinese President Xi Jingping sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang party(KMT), Cheng Li-wun is set to assume her post on November 1st. In XI’s message, he urged the two parties to “strengthen their common political foundation”, “deepen exchanges and cooperation”, and unite the “vast majority of people in Taiwan” and advance “national reunification” under China’s view. Cheng, for her part, acknowledged a shared membership in the “Chinese nation” in an ethnic sense and called for a peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait but did not want Chinese reunification and to be brought to the mainland. The election of Cheng came amid accusations of interference from Beijing and reflects KMT’s traditional stance of closer ties, in contrast to Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party(DDP), which reject Beijing sovereignty claims.
I think that there is a very interesting point in this article and its when China’s leader Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the new leader of Taiwan. This may not sound so interesting upfront but Taiwan is seeking international recognition and Xi just congratulated the new leader of Taiwan, to me that sounds like something noteworthy because China indirectly recognized Taiwan. This article is important because it shows the repetitive Chinese mentality of always wanting to make Taiwan a part of China. The article highlights that Taiwan’s new leader, Cheng Li-wung, wants to be closer with China as she sees that Taiwan and China are both aligned ethnically, but does not want to be absorbed into China and wants to remain separate.
China can respond to this event by using its power and dominance and reject Chengs plea of becoming closer to China with peace and they could lockdown the Taiwan Strait. China could also respond to this event by giving Taiwan international recognition and establishing peace with Taiwan. Taiwan can’t really do much in this situation because of the fact its technically not a state so it doesn’t have too much power to make decisions. Taiwan could work out a deal with China and be absorbed into the state. Taiwan could also remain the way it is and not join China and work out some sort of nuetrality or peace deal.
This event connects directly to class because the article talked about Taiwan which is a non-recognized state. Taiwan does have sovereignty over its land, a legitimate government, and a permanent population but lacks international recognition.