One prong is coopting Taiwanese elites, in parts by allowing them to become very wealthy through China, but only if working in the background for unification. There is no way Foxconn would have been allowed to operate large factories in China, if its founder and chairman (Terry Gou) was pro independence.
This is empire building 101. Romans offered barbarian leaders a luxurious lifestyle with floor heating and access to a wide variety of regional specialties from around the empire in exchange for loyalty to the city. Quite many took that offer, those who didn't were convinced with help of the military.
(Funny considering KMT history, but that's how things played out.)
No, KMT is not pro-unification. When KMT's ex-chairman Hung Hsiu-chu openly supported the unification during her presidential campaign in 2015, 91% of KMT delegates at the party congress voted for replacing her as the KMT presidential candidate.
KMT's plan is always to keep the status quo and use "unification" as a bargaining chip to get more $ from the CCP.
That's a historical constant, nothing funny about it.
I remember Ma Yingjiu (the previous KMT ROC President) asked about 'independence' in 2011. He replied that the Republic of China had been independent since it was founded in 1911. Very good reply that summarises the situation to those who do not know Chinese history.
This position has changed 180 degrees in recent decades. The unification now KMT is promoting is essentially just give up and let CPC take over.
Notice KMT is a foreign political party that originates from mainland China.
Taiwanese people never had a say in that (Taiwanese social elites were slaughtered by KMT) before DPP became a real political party that's born and raised in Taiwan.
Ma Yingjiu's statement was to maintain KMT's legitimacy as a party in Taiwan, that is, through a country named ROC.
However, for Taiwanese. Our country is called Taiwan. And that's how we recognise ourselves long before 1911.