Author: Yuanyue Dang,Hayley Wong

Beijing aims to reunite Taiwan with China, despite the majority of countries, including the US, not recognizing Taiwan as an independent state. Washington opposes any use of force against Taiwan and supports its defense efforts. Fujian, located close to Taiwan both geographically and culturally, hosted the Straits Forum, a platform for cross-strait exchanges. Despite Taipei’s concerns, the Kuomintang party sent a delegation to the forum, sparking criticism. The forum focused on grass roots governance, youth exchanges, and economic and cultural ties, with over 7,000 attendees from Taiwan. Beijing emphasized the importance of people-driven initiatives for cross-strait relations. The forum highlighted…