Wang Huning Urges Cross-Strait Unity at 18th Straits Forum

XIAMEN, China — Wang Huning, China’s fourth-highest-ranking official, delivered a keynote address at the 18th Straits Forum on June 13, calling for enhanced cross-strait exchanges and adherence to the One-China principle, as the annual gathering proceeded under the shadow of an expanded Taiwanese government boycott. The forum, held in Xiamen, Fujian Province, is the largest annual grassroots exchange platform between mainland China and Taiwan.

Context and Background

The Straits Forum, first held in 2009, has served as a key channel for people-to-people, economic, and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. This year’s edition took place against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) having expanded its ban on June 4 to bar both central and local government officials from attending the event, characterizing it as a “united front” platform.

Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has addressed the forum for three consecutive years, signaling the high priority Beijing places on the gathering. His speech this year referenced Xi Jinping’s April 2026 meeting with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Cheng Li-wen, which set the direction for cross-strait policy.

Key Developments

According to Xinhua News Agency, Wang Huning emphasized in his address that “the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and are a community with a shared future where weal and woe are shared.” He called on compatriots on both sides to “resolutely oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and foreign interference.”

Wang also linked the recently approved 15th Five-Year Plan to cross-strait development, stating that the plan “will open up broad space for the development of cross-strait relations.” This represents a notable new element in Beijing’s messaging, suggesting economic integration is seen as a key driver of unification.

Despite the MAC’s expanded restrictions, the KMT sent a delegation led by Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung. In his speech, Chang asserted that “Taiwanese who are authentic Taiwanese are also upright and honorable Chinese people,” aligning with the KMT’s traditional position on cross-strait relations.

Fujian Provincial Party Secretary Zhou Zuyi also addressed the forum, emphasizing the province’s role as a “cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone.” He noted that “this year marks the beginning of the ‘15th Five-Year Plan,’” and pledged that Fujian would “fully build a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone.”

Divergent Perspectives

The forum highlighted the sharp divide in cross-strait political dynamics. While Beijing frames the event as a platform for peaceful exchange and mutual understanding, Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) views it differently. MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh stated that the forum serves as “the Chinese communist government’s platform for deploying ‘united front’ tactics against Taiwan, whose goal is infiltrating Taiwanese society under the pretext of cross-strait exchange.”

The KMT, as Taiwan’s main opposition party, occupies a middle ground, maintaining that engagement through the forum is consistent with the Republic of China Constitution’s stance on One China and serves as a valuable channel for maintaining peace.

Analysis and Implications

The 18th Straits Forum illustrates the increasingly complex cross-strait landscape. The DPP administration’s expanded ban signals a hardening stance against Chinese influence operations, while the KMT’s continued participation underscores the party’s different approach to cross-strait relations.

Wang Huning’s explicit linkage of the 15th Five-Year Plan to cross-strait development suggests Beijing is doubling down on economic integration as a long-term strategy. Fujian’s designation as a demonstration zone positions the province at the forefront of this effort, testing policies that could eventually be scaled across the strait.

What’s Next

In the short term, the absence of Taiwanese government officials will limit the scope of official-level exchanges at the forum. However, people-to-people and economic exchanges through non-governmental channels are likely to persist. The broader trajectory suggests that cross-strait official engagement may continue to diminish under the current DPP administration, even as Beijing maintains its strategy of integration and outreach through alternative channels.

The coming months will reveal whether the 15th Five-Year Plan includes specific provisions for cross-strait integration and how Fujian’s demonstration zone policies evolve in practice.