At the opening of the annual Straits Forum in Xiamen, China’s top Taiwan affairs official, Wang Huning, renewed Beijing’s calls for closer cross-strait integration while condemning what he described as dangerous “Taiwan independence forces.” The comments arrive at a moment of increasing political strain, just weeks after Taiwan’s President William Lai reiterated his commitment to national security and dialogue with China.
Speaking at the forum on Sunday, Wang — a senior Communist Party official and chair of China’s top political advisory body, the CPPCC — warned that pro-independence movements and foreign interference pose a threat to China’s sovereignty and peace. “They will only bring disaster to the people of Taiwan,” Wang said, in remarks clearly aimed at Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its growing ties with the West.
Wang’s comments reflect Beijing’s growing frustration with the DPP government and its refusal to engage on Beijing’s terms. He described the current geopolitical climate as “complex and severe,” and reaffirmed China’s ambition of “national reunification” — a goal Beijing has not ruled out achieving by force.
In a surprising turn, former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou attended the forum, becoming the first ex-leader of the self-ruled island to do so. Ma, who led Taiwan from 2008 to 2016 and now heads the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, was met with sharp criticism back home. The DPP called his participation “inappropriate” and “incomprehensible,” arguing it plays into China’s political agenda.
Despite the backlash, Ma urged for diplomacy: “Only through uninterrupted exchanges can friends on both sides of the strait reduce misunderstandings, avoid misjudgments, and build trust and consensus.” In a meeting with Wang ahead of the forum, Ma reportedly emphasized replacing confrontation with dialogue and avoiding war at all costs.
Beijing has recently ramped up its efforts to build physical and economic ties with Taiwan’s offshore islands. Plans are underway to create integrated communities between Xiamen and Quemoy (Kinmen) as well as Fuzhou and the Matsu Islands — territories controlled by Taipei but geographically closer to the Chinese mainland. Last year, China launched a policy to improve housing, employment, and social services for Taiwanese residents in Fujian province, positioning it as a model for cross-strait integration.
Yet, while over 7,000 Taiwanese participants are expected at this year’s forum, attendance by political figures is notably down. No Taiwanese county magistrates, city mayors, or current Kuomintang (KMT) officials are present, a stark contrast to previous years. The DPP has actively discouraged involvement in what it sees as a tool of Beijing’s “united front” strategy.
The political climate in Taiwan remains highly polarized. The DPP is currently pursuing recall efforts against KMT legislators in the Taiwanese parliament, signaling growing domestic friction over cross-strait policy.
China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long insisted it must eventually be reunified with the mainland. Most of the international community, including the United States, does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent nation but supports peaceful resolution and opposes any attempt to change the status quo by force.
As Ma continues his mainland tour — with stops including a ceremony in Gansu province — the visit underscores deepening divides in Taiwan over how to engage with Beijing. For China, his participation is a symbolic win. For Taiwan’s ruling party, it is a politically charged reminder of the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and self-determination.
