Continuity vs autonomy: Divisions shaping Taiwan’s China policy

In April 2026, the visit of Nationalist Party (KMT) leader Cheng Li-wun to China once again sharpened a long-standing divide in Taiwanese politics. However, interpreting this divide solely through current political competition would be insufficient. What is unfolding in Taiwan today is not merely a difference between parties but the reflection of two deeply rooted political traditions in foreign policy. One tradition, represented by the KMT, seeks to reduce tensions with China by maintaining engagement and managing relations within a controllable framework. The other, represented by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), aims to preserve Taiwan’s political room for maneuver by limiting institutional and economic ties with China. This divide is not simply a product of present-day preferences; rather, it reflects two distinct political experiences rooted in Taiwan’s modern history, and it is this historical background that makes the current divide more understandable.