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China GlobalAuthor: The German Marshall Fund
Chinas rise has captivated and vexed the international community. From defense, technology, and the environment, to trade, academia, and human rights, much of what Beijing does now reverberates across the map. China Global is a new podcast from the German Marshall Fund that decodes Beijings global ambitions as they unfold. Every other week, host Bonnie Glaser will be joined by a different international expert for an illuminating discussion on a different aspect of Chinas foreign policy, the worldview that drives its actions, the tactics its using to achieve its goalsand what that means for the rest of the world. Language: en Genres: News, News Commentary, Politics Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Unpacking the Xi-Cheng Meeting: Objectives and Outcomes
Episode 123
Monday, 13 April, 2026
On today’s episode, we’ll discuss the recent meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, the first in a decade between a Chinese Communist Party General Secretary and a KMT Chair. Ms. Cheng was elected party chair only four months ago, and her top priority was to meet with Xi Jinping. She has not yet visited the United States, but says she intends to do so later this year. In their public statements, Xi Jinping and Cheng Li-wun highlighted several common themes, including opposition to Taiwan independence, support for the 1992 Consensus, shared history and Chinese heritage, that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family, the importance of China’s national rejuvenation, and the need to preserve peace and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. To discuss this historic meeting, I’m joined by Amanda Hsiao. Amanda is a director in Eurasia Group's China practice covering China's foreign policy and cross-strait relations. This episode was recorded on April 10, 2026. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [01:42] Why the Xi–Cheng Meeting Matters [03:00] Cheng Li-wun’s Aims and Messaging [06:13] Xi Jinping’s Strategic Objectives [11:17] Signaling Ahead of the Trump-Xi Summit [13:23] Progress Towards Unification [17:53] Shifting Positions on the 1992 Consensus [22:25] Public Views of Cheng Li-wun [26:32] Potential Shifts to China’s Taiwan Policy [28:12] Implications for Use of Force [30:34] What Stood Out During Cheng’s China Trip
