The change in tone was evident at the 2026 Cross-Strait Work Conference held in Beijing earlier this week. Senior Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning attended the Feb. 9-10 meeting, where officials notably pivoted from previous hardline rhetoric about "shaping the inevitable momentum of reunification." Instead, the focus turned to "maintaining peace and stability" and expanding civilian exchanges.

Analysts suggest this rhetorical adjustment reflects a pragmatic reassessment by Beijing. Following recent purges within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and amid slowing economic growth, the Communist Party leadership appears to be prioritizing "integration" over immediate "confrontation."

A Return to "Peaceful Development"

At a press briefing following the conference—her final appearance before the Lunar New Year—Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian emphasized that the "1992 Consensus" and opposition to Taiwan independence remain the political foundation for cross-strait relations. （Related： Opinion | Tech Stocks Surge in China & Hong Kong, Catching Up with Taiwan ｜ Latest ）

Zhu highlighted a recent "15-point consensus" reached through dialogue between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.She positioned this agreement as a catalyst for "new opportunities," promising to improve the business environment for Taiwanese entrepreneurs on the mainland.

This messaging stands in sharp contrast to the harsh criticism leveled at Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in recent years, indicating an intent to ease tensions through incremental economic openings.

From "Muscle Flexing" to "Offering Benefits"

The policy evolution from 2023 to 2026 traces a clear trajectory. As President Tsai Ing-wen's administration concluded and Lai Ching-te assumed the presidency in 2024, cross-strait relations hit a low point. However, Beijing has since moved to integrate its Taiwan policy with local economic planning.

Provincial Taiwan affairs offices nationwide have incorporated support for Taiwanese employment and entrepreneurship into their 15th Five-Year Plan outlines.Regions like Fujian and Shanghai have introduced preferential policies, a move observers interpret as shifting from "flexing muscles" to "offering benefits" in hopes of gradually swaying Taiwanese public opinion. （Related： Opinion | Tech Stocks Surge in China & Hong Kong, Catching Up with Taiwan ｜ Latest ）

Recent measures include relaxing restrictions to allow residents of Shanghai and Fujian to visit Taiwan's offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu. Beijing has framed this as a gesture of "maximum goodwill," though Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) dismissed the move as "obvious political manipulation," calling the selective lifting of travel bans "unreasonable."

"MAC's remarks completely ignore the welfare of Taiwanese people," Zhu retorted, urging Taipei to "stop political manipulation."

The Defense Budget Hurdle

Despite the softer tone, military tensions remain the defining obstacle in Cross Strait relations. On Feb. 11, the day after the Beijing conference concluded, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te hosted a press conference supporting a new "National Defense Procurement Special Act."

Lai emphasized that "international consensus recognizes peace and stability in theTaiwan Strait as indispensable to global security." The timing, coinciding with theTaiwan Affairs Office's pre-holiday briefing, inevitably brought the issue of U.S. arms sales to the forefront.

Zhu Fenglian reiterated Beijing's standard "bottom line," demanding the U.S. stop sending "wrong signals" to separatist forces.

"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people themselves and brooks no external interference," Zhu said.

While Beijing maintains its unwavering commitment to eventual reunification and refuses to renounce the use of force, the recent conference suggests a profound internal shift. By intensifying "integrated development" and courting Taiwanese business and tourism sectors, leadership appears keen to avoid direct military escalation in the Taiwan Strait for the time being. （Related： Opinion | Tech Stocks Surge in China & Hong Kong, Catching Up with Taiwan ｜ Latest ）

Original Article in Chinese