https://www.scmp.com/rss/524203/feed Song Tao is a seasoned Chinese diplomat and politician. Appointed in December 2022, he previously led the Chinese Communist Party’s International Department and served as ambassador to Guyana and the Philippines. His background in foreign affairs and "united front work" demonstrates expertise in international relations and party-to-party diplomacy, including a notable special envoy role to North Korea. He now oversees Taiwan policies, promoting cross-Strait exchanges and integrated development,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lawrence Chung,Alcott Wei Lawrence Chung,Alcott Wei Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun said she hoped to make the Taiwan Strait “safe” and not one of the world’s “most dangerous places” as she left for Shanghai on Tuesday. Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng is leading a 14-member delegation – including three KMT vice-chairmen – on a six-day visit to mainland China. A planned meeting with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping during the trip has drawn scrutiny in Taipei as tensions soar across the strait. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349225/taiwanese-opposition-leader-cheng-li-wun-begins-journey-peace-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3349225/taiwanese-opposition-leader-cheng-li-wun-begins-journey-peace-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:59:21 +0000 Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Phoebe Zhang,Lawrence Chung Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), will lead a delegation to mainland China next month at the invitation of Beijing, her first visit since assuming the position in November. Song Tao, head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that the Communist Party Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, would welcome her visit to Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7 to 12 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3348342/taiwans-kuomintang-leader-visit-mainland-china-aid-peaceful-relations-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:47:18 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The Communist Party and the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s main opposition party, will revive a long-stalled dialogue channel next week to navigate cross-strait tensions and discuss plans to promote industrial cooperation. Beijing confirmed on Wednesday that the think tank forum would be held in the Chinese capital on February 3, according to an announcement by Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). The party-to-party channel, known unofficially as the Communist... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341569/communist-party-and-kmt-revive-forum-stalled-decade-cross-strait-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341569/communist-party-and-kmt-revive-forum-stalled-decade-cross-strait-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:21:11 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Beijing will continue to push for peaceful reunification with Taiwan with the “utmost sincerity”, according to a new year’s message from a senior official delivered days after the People’s Liberation Army concluded large-scale drills around the island. Mainland China had strengthened its capacity to safeguard peace and security over the past year and would take more forceful action to oppose separatism and external interference this year, Song Tao, the head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338545/beijing-pledges-utmost-sincerity-continue-push-reunite-peacefully-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338545/beijing-pledges-utmost-sincerity-continue-push-reunite-peacefully-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:21:07 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng A senior Chinese official with a background in water resources and ethnic affairs has been named as the new Communist Party boss of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. In a one-paragraph announcement on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said the party’s Central Committee “recently decided” that Chen Xiaojiang would serve as party secretary of Xinjiang. The move might clear the path for Chen, one of the 300 or so members of the Central Committee, to be promoted within the party’s hierarchy, given... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316502/chinas-ethnic-affairs-chief-communist-party-helm-xinjiang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316502/chinas-ethnic-affairs-chief-communist-party-helm-xinjiang?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:07 +0000