The development of vocational undergraduate education is a key aspect of China’s educational reform as the country enters the stage of high-quality development. Promoting the high-quality development of vocational undergraduate education is essential for building a strong educational system and supporting national talent development. Vocational education, as the primary focus, plays a pivotal role in expanding the national talent pool, enhancing the capacity for applied talent cultivation, and providing a pathway for higher education to identify, educate, and evaluate skilled professionals. As a top-down initiative, vocational undergraduate education in China must balance micro-level institutional practices with macro-level policy promotion. However, the development of vocational undergraduate education faces three key conflicts: the tension between steady policy development and the practical need for rapid expansion, the disconnect between adaptable development strategies and the uncritical push for upgrades, and the challenge of aligning the specific characteristics of vocational education with inconsistent implementation paths. To address these challenges, the paper suggests several strategies: (1) leveraging local autonomy in school management to promote regional development and school-specific layouts; (2) improving evaluation standards and creating tailored educational paths based on institutional differences; (3) optimizing the selection criteria for institutions under the “Double High Plan” to align with the distinct characteristics of vocational education; and (4) enhancing schools’ core capabilities in line with industry development to strengthen the quality of talent cultivation.