Bar independence of Taiwan, Chinese president Xi Jinping said he welcomed any other proposals to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait. Photograph: Ken Ishii - Pool/Getty ImagesXi Jinping has told the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party that Beijing can never accept Taiwanese independence but welcomed any other proposals to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang party met with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Friday. The opposition party said it backed increased defence spending but was proposing a more modest €12 billion package. [ Taiwan’s opposition leader to visit Beijing in landmark meetingOpens in new window ]

Source: The Irish Times April 11, 2026 01:14 UTC