China's Xi meets Taiwan opposition leader ahead of key summit with Trump

NPR reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Taiwan's opposition KMT leader Cheng Li-wun, where both agreed to pursue peace efforts, though Taiwan's ruling party expresses concern that the engagement could enable Beijing to undermine Taiwan's democratic institutions. The article is bylined and sourced from NPR, a major national outlet with strong editorial standards, lending credibility to the reporting. Independent coverage from CNN, NBC, The Guardian, and CNBC corroborates the meeting and adds important context: Xi reiterated Beijing's opposition to Taiwan independence, Cheng avoided public criticism of China during the visit despite domestic controversy, and the meeting occurs ahead of both a Trump-Xi summit in May and Taiwan's 2028 presidential election—suggesting the timing carries geopolitical weight. Watch for how Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party responds to the outcome of this engagement, and track any shifts in Beijing's military posture or diplomatic messaging following the reported peace agreement.