18th Straits Forum Opens as Cross-Strait Tensions Simmer

The 18th Straits Forum convened in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on June 13, 2026, bringing together thousands of participants from across the Taiwan Strait for the largest grassroots civil exchange platform between the two sides. China’s top political advisor, Wang Huning, attended and delivered a keynote address, while the forum unveiled new economic agreements and infrastructure milestones even as Taiwan’s administration expanded restrictions on participation.

A Platform for Dialogue Amid Political Friction

The forum, themed “Expanding Civil Exchanges and Deepening Integrated Development,” featured 58 activities across four sectors: grassroots, youth, cultural, and economic exchanges. Since its inception in 2009, the Straits Forum has grown into the most significant civil exchange platform between the two sides, cumulatively attracting over 100,000 Taiwanese participants.

Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that “the territory cannot be divided, the country cannot be disordered, the nation cannot be scattered, and civilization cannot be broken,” as reported by Xinhua. He referenced President Xi Jinping’s April meeting with KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, stating it had “pointed the way forward for promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.”

Kuomintang (KMT) Vice Chairman Chang Jong-kung attended and addressed the forum, stating that “as long as both sides of the strait are one family, there is no issue between the two sides that cannot be communicated or resolved,” according to People’s Daily.

Economic Incentives and Infrastructure Integration

The forum delivered concrete economic benefits. Chinese enterprises signed procurement agreements with businesses and trade associations from Taiwanese counties including Taitung, Yunlin, and Nantou for agricultural products such as sugar apples, pomelos, and tea. Ten policy measures for promoting cross-strait exchanges and cooperation were also signed.

Su Ching-chuan, KMT Pingtung County Party Director, noted that “behind every grouper fish lies the livelihood of fishing families and the hope of local industries,” emphasizing the tangible impact of these agreements on Taiwanese farmers and fishermen.

Infrastructure integration featured prominently. The Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge (Xiamen section) is scheduled to achieve mainline traffic by the end of 2026, with full completion expected by the end of 2027. The bridge has reserved an interface for the Kinmen section. Quanzhou has cumulatively supplied over 49 million tons of water to Kinmen, transforming the slogan “both sides of the strait are one family, drinking from the same river” into reality.

Yang Jiaqi, General Manager of Jinxia Shipping Co., shared a poignant personal story: “Grandma walked her whole life but couldn’t finish the road. Now thousands of people walk it every day.”

Taiwan’s Restrictions and Grassroots Demand

The forum took place against a backdrop of heightened political tensions. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, under the Lai Ching-te administration, expanded restrictions ahead of the forum, prohibiting county and city governments and public officials from attending related activities. Some Taiwanese guests were forced to participate via video link.

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han criticized the restrictions, stating that the DPP authorities’ actions “fully expose their essence of fake democracy and true dictatorship,” as reported by Shandong Radio and Television.

Despite the restrictions, significant numbers of Taiwanese citizens attended. First-quarter 2026 data shows Taiwanese arrivals to mainland China increased by 27.6% year-on-year. Wang Kunyi, Chairman of the Taiwan International Strategic Studies Association, described the forum as a “rose that cannot be crushed by the DPP,” according to China News Service.

Rao Ching-ling, Taitung County Magistrate who was barred from attending, questioned the restrictions: “County and city public officials participate in the forum to assist industrial development, not for politics. To blindly restrict exchanges without proposing alternatives — is this abandoning farmers to their fate?”

The Fujian Integration Demonstration Zone

Fujian Province has released five batches of 74 policy measures promoting Fujian-Taiwan integration over the past three years since the establishment of the Cross-Strait Integration Development Demonstration Zone in 2023. The forum also saw Fujian propose resuming individual travel for Fujian residents to Taiwan proper.

Looking Ahead

The 18th edition marks a milestone for the forum, which Chinese media framed as a “coming of age” for the platform. With the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge approaching completion and continued economic integration measures, the forum’s institutional resilience underscores the enduring demand for cross-strait engagement at the grassroots level — even as political headwinds persist at the official level.

As the forum demonstrated, the “carrot and stick” dynamic remains central to cross-strait relations: economic incentives and infrastructure integration continue alongside political pressure, while Taiwanese citizens increasingly vote with their feet by traveling to the mainland in growing numbers.