China10 April, 20261 min read
Xi Jinping Meets Taiwan Opposition Leader Cheng Li-wun, Pushes Peace and Unification
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Xi Jinping met Cheng Li-wun, chair of Taiwan's Kuomintang, in Beijing, a rare high-level exchange. Xi reaffirmed one-China stance and opposed Taiwan independence.
Historic Xi-KMT Meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Taiwan's main opposition leader in the first such meeting in over a decade. Xi said he was willing to work with all political parties in Taiwan on the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence. Cheng framed cross-strait engagement as a choice between peace and war, urging all parties to set aside differences.
The meeting came amid heightened military pressure by China over Taiwan. Xi declared that unification of the island with the mainland is a historical inevitability.
Divergent Death Toll Reports
The Rahman Textile factory fire resulted in a wide range of reported death tolls from different sources. Reuters and BBC reported at least 28 deaths, while Al Jazeera cited at least 41. The Dhaka Tribune reported 33 confirmed dead.
Police detained factory owner Faisal Rahman as investigations focused on welded shut emergency exits. Fire service chief Mahmud Iqbal said rescue crews found most victims near stairwells.
Survivors Describe Locked Exits
Survivors described workers pounding on locked metal doors as smoke filled the stairwells. Nasrin Begum escaped by jumping from a second-floor window. The Bangladesh Garment Workers' Federation called a nationwide strike.
Rahman Textile had been cited for fire safety violations in 2024 but continued operating. Labour Minister Tahmina Akhter pledged an immediate investigation.
European Brands Face Scrutiny
Rahman Textile produced clothing for several European fashion brands. Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their operations. Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.
Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken. Rahman was being questioned about welded shut emergency exits.
