On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50 yrs

[Patriot]

On Saturday, the presidents of China and Taiwan will meet for first time in more than half a century

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou are scheduled to hold a milestone summit this weekend in Singapore. This will be the first time Chinese and Taiwanese top leaders have met in 66 years, since members of the Chinese Nationalist Party fled to the island of Taiwan at the end of its civil war with the Chinese Communist Party in 1949.

The respective leaders are set to make history on Saturday, November 7th in Singapore, where Xi will be for an official state visit. The leaders will meet at the Shangri-La Hotel and enjoy dinner together afterwards.

Xi and Ma will keep things friendly by addressing each other as "mister" rather than "President" as they “exchange views on cross-strait issues," Ma's presidential spokesman Charles Chen detailed last night. He also went on to highlight that a major aim of the meeting was to try to “secure cross-strait peace”.

Taiwan and China have been separately governed since 1949. At that time Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang (KMT) formed its own government in Taiwan after Mao Zedong's communists took control over mainland China. Since then the PRC has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and in 2005 passed a law that makes secession by Taiwan illegal, at the risk of military intervention.

Previously, the CCP has been reluctant to meet with a Taiwanese leader for fear that the meeting might legitimize the government there.

Since Ma's election in 2008, however, relations between the two neighbors has at last begun to thaw. Chen said President Ma's aim was "to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait and maintain the status quo".

"No agreement will be signed, and no joint statement issued," he said. Ma will hold a press conference on Thursday to explain his decision to hold the talks.

It has been suggested that Beijing has been trying to strengthen cross-strait trade in order to draw Taiwan economically closer to the mainland, leading to an eventual political union. Despite this, reunification with the mainland has been increasingly opposed, especially by younger generations in Taiwan.

With Taiwanese elections just three months away and the KMT party struggling mightily, there are fears in China that recent progress that has been made to establish closer ties may be ruined by the pro-independence opposition party led by Tsai Ing-wen, who currently leads comfortably in the polls.

By Daniel Paul


Contact the author of this article or email [email protected] with further questions, comments or tips.

By Shanghaiist in News on Nov 4, 2015 2:30 PM

 

[Patriot]

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[TD="align: left"]BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou are scheduled to meet in Singapore on Saturday, a mainland Taiwan affairs official said Wednesday in Beijing.

They will exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, said Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Relevant departments of the two sides have decided through consultation that the meeting will be made in the name of leaders of the mainland and Taiwan, Zhang said, adding it is a pragmatic arrangement in accordance with the one-China principle while cross-Strait political difference has not been resolved.
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[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

[FONT=&amp]馬習會 新加坡香格里拉飯店舉行

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[FONT=&amp]發稿時間：2015/11/04 10:04
最新更新：2015/11/04 10:15
字級：
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政府高層4日表示，總統馬英九與大陸國家主席習近平預定7日下午在新加坡香格里拉飯店會面。（取自香格里拉飯店網站）

（中央社記者蔡素蓉台北4日電）政府高層今天表示，總統馬英九與大陸國家主席習近平預定7日下午在新加坡香格里拉飯店會面，兩人單獨談20分鐘，會後各自舉行記者會，並將共進晚餐。

政府高層今天表示，馬習會一事已溝通協調好幾個星期，絕非如外傳是在新加坡總理李顯龍的午宴上不期而遇。兩人預定7日下午在香格里拉飯店會談，會談前開放讓媒體拍照，之後兩人再單獨會談20分鐘。

政府高層人士表示，馬總統與習近平會談後，將各自舉行記者會，之後還將一同共進晚餐。

政府高層人士說，習近平並非為馬習會而特地訪問新加坡，而是雙方都有會談的意願，彼此溝通協商後，找到彼此雙方都可以合適的時間。

總統府秘書長曾永權、行政院大陸委員會主任委員夏立言等人將陪同馬總統赴新加坡。

總統府發言人陳以信昨晚表示，馬習會目的在於鞏固兩岸和平，維持台海現狀，不會簽署任何協議，不會發表聯合聲明。1041104
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[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

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[TD="width: 905, align: center"]Xi, Ma to salute each other "mister" in historic meeting[/TD]
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[TD="align: left"]BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou will salute each other "mister" in their historic meeting in Singapore on Saturday, the Taiwan affairs chief of the Chinese mainland said here Wednesday.

In line with the one-China principle, the two sides across the Taiwan Strait reached the pragmatic arrangement, showing the spirit of shelving difference while respecting for each other, said Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The two leaders will exchange views on promoting peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, discuss major issues on deepening cross-Strait cooperation in various areas and improving the people's welfare, in a bid to safeguard and further push forward peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Zhang said.

The Xi-Ma meeting is arranged to take place in Singapore after various considerations, Zhang said, without giving more details.

The two leaders are expected to have a dinner after the meeting, Zhang said.

Zhang said the meeting is a "milestone" for cross-Strait relations, breaking through in direct exchange and communication between the two leaders, after hardships and twists since 1949.

The two sides across the Strait used to have drastic military conflicts and sharp political confrontation, till in the late 1980s when the two sides broke the ice in mutual isolation, Zhang said.

In early years of the 21st century, Zhang said, provocations from the Taiwan secessionist forces put the situation into crisis, when leaders across the Strait could not be imagined to meet face in face in such tension and turbulence in relationship.

In April 2005, Hu Jintao, then general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and then Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan made the first meeting between top leaders of the two political parties in 60 years.

They met in the name of two respective party leaders at that time.

"The realization of the meeting between Xi and Ma results from concerted efforts of both sides and all compatriots, benefiting from accumulated fruits achieved in the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations," Zhang said.
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[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

Taiwan party leader affirms eventual reunion with China

PUBLISHED: 6:01 PM, MAY 4, 2015


BEIJING — The head of Taiwan's Nationalists reaffirmed the party's support for eventual unification with the mainland when he met Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of continuing rapprochement between the former bitter enemies.

Nationalist Party Chairman Eric Chu, a likely presidential candidate next year, also affirmed Taiwan's desire to join the proposed Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank during the meeting in Beijing. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and doesn't want the island to join using a name that might imply it is an independent country.

Mr Chu's comments during his meeting with Mr Xi were carried live on Hong Kong-based broadcaster Phoenix Television.

The Nationalists were driven to Taiwan by Mao Zedong's Communists during the Chinese civil war in 1949, leading to decades of hostility between the sides. Mr Chu, who took over as party leader in January, is the third Nationalist chairman to visit the mainland and the first since 2009.

Relations between the communist-ruled mainland and the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan began to warm in the 1990s, partly out of their common opposition to Taiwan's formal independence from China, a position advocated by the island's Democratic Progressive Party.

Despite increasingly close economic ties, the prospect of political unification has grown increasingly unpopular on Taiwan, especially with younger voters. Opposition to the Nationalists' pro-China policies was seen as a driver behind heavy local electoral defeats for the party last year that led to Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou resigning as party chairman. AP

 

[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

Taiwan and China to hold historic summit in Singapore

• 4 November 2015
• From the sectionChina

Image copyrightAFPImage captionXi Jinping (left) and Ma Ying-jeou will discuss stronger ties, Taiwan says

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore on Saturday - the first ever meeting between leaders of the two sides.

Both said the talks would focus on relations across the Taiwan Straits.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the island as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland.

But ties have improved since President Ma took office in 2008.


China-Taiwan relations in 60 secondsThe Chinese government threatens to use military force against Taiwan if it ever attempts to gain outright independence.

Taiwanese spokesman Chen Yi-hsin said President Ma's aim was "to promote peace cross the Taiwan Strait and maintain status quo".

Analysis: Cindy Sui, BBC News, Taipei

This meeting, less than three months before Taiwan's elections, is a sign of how concerned China is that the significantly improved ties of recent years could be jeopardised if the pro-independence opposition party's candidate becomes president. Opinion polls show Tsai Ing-wen is leading - a big worry for Beijing.

Ms Tsai has said she welcomes dialogue with Chinese leaders, but Beijing has refused to meet her, indicating it does not trust her.

She was a minister in charge of developing policy toward mainland China under the previous administration, which angered Beijing by trying to work towards formal independence.

Mr Xi may believe he can sway Taiwanese voters but this could backfire. While some voters who want to maintain stable relations may heed his words, they may offend Taiwanese voters who are already worried that Beijing will have increasing influence over Taiwan if the candidate from President Ma's party is elected.

And this could hurt, rather than help, the party favoured by Beijing.

The two leaders are expected to handle the meeting in a delicate manner. Mr Ma's office has emphasised no agreements will be signed and no joint statement will be issued.

Mr Ma will hold a news conference on Thursday to explain his decision to hold the talks. More details are also expected from Taiwan's mainland affairs council later on Wednesday.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the two sides would "exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations".

Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage captionThousands of Taiwanese students protested in 2014 against a trade agreement with China

The BBC's John Sudworth in Beijing says Saturday's meeting will mark a significant break with the long-established diplomatic stance.

Contact of any kind between the two sides has been extremely limited and China has resisted anything that might be seen to be giving Taiwan equal status, he says.

In a sign of how politically sensitive the meeting is, the leaders will address each other as Mr Xi and Mr Ma, rather than president, one Chinese government official has said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the US welcomed any steps to reduce tensions and improve relations, but added: "We'll have to see what actually comes out of the meeting."

Taiwan-China key dates

• 1949: Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang (KMT) nationalists form their own government in Taiwan after Mao Zedong's communists take power in Beijing
• 1971: Taiwan loses its seat at the UN to China
• 1979: The US establishes diplomatic relations with China while at the same time committing itself to defending Taiwan
• 1993: First direct talks between the two sides take place in Singapore
• 2005: Beijing brings in a law that makes secession by Taiwan illegal, at the risk of military action
• 2008: High-level talks between the two sides resume after Ma Ying-jeou is elected president

Ties with China have improved under President Ma, whose Kuomintang (KMT) party is seen as pro-Beijing.

In July 2009 the two leaders exchanged direct messages for the first time in more than 60 years, albeit in their respective party functions, and not as national leaders.

A year later, the two countries signed a historic trade pact.

However, correspondents say growing fears over China's influence has led to widespread dissatisfaction in Taiwan.

The KMT suffered a crushing defeat in local elections last year, a result that was widely seen as a rejection of President Ma's push for closer ties with China.

Mr Ma steps down next year having served two terms, and earlier this month the KMT dropped its candidate for January's presidential election following a series of poor
ratings in opinion polls.

Analysts say China is likely to see a meeting between the two leaders as a final chance to press its case for improved ties, in case the KMT loses the election.

China has insisted that countries cannot have official relations with both China and Taiwan, with the result that Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only 21 UN member states.

Taiwan also has no seat at the UN, having lost it to China in 1971. Repeated attempts to regain representation at the UN have been blocked.

 

[mojito]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

How about our President, Tiny Tan? Will they meet with him too?

 

[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

How about our President, Tiny Tan? Will they meet with him too?

 

[Semaj2357]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

hokay, besides serving up some flied chicken and flied lice, he's suitably dressed to open and close the doors with shouts of huan ying

 

[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

hokay, besides serving up some flied chicken and flied lice, he's suitably dressed to open and close the doors with shouts of huan ying

And the 2 presidents will also get to enjoy some light & comical entertainment provided by Mr & Mrs LHL:

 

[syed putra]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

why must they meet in singapore? to strengthen china's claim to whole of south china sea up to Tuas?

 

[halsey02]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

The two CHINA's are technically still at war.....will they sign the peace treat in NANYANG??

 

[Patriot]

Re: On Sat, the presidents of China & Taiwan will meet for 1st time in more than 50

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• SIA PACIFIC

Protests in Taiwan as Ma leaves for meet with Xi



Overnight around 100 protesters tried to storm the heavily-guarded parliament building in Taipei carrying "Taiwan independence" banners, but were stopped by police. There were no arrests.

• POSTED: 07 Nov 2015 07:40

• PHOTOS

Legislators from the pro-independent Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) place placards that read "recall Ma Ying-jeou", to protest against the coming meeting between Taiwanese President Ma and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Photo: AFP/Sam Yeh)

TAIPEI: Angry protesters tried to storm parliament in Taiwan overnight on Saturday (Nov 6) as the island's leader Ma Ying-jeou left for a historic summit in Singapore with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The meeting will be the first between leaders of the two sides since their 1949 split following a civil war won by the Chinese Communists.

Xi and Ma will shake hands at a luxury hotel in Singapore around 3pm before holding talks behind closed doors for an hour.

It is a deeply symbolic seal on a dramatic seven-year rapprochement under Ma following decades of hostility, but has provoked a backlash in Taiwan.

Closer ties with China have sparked fears over Beijing's growing influence with Ma's opponents accusing him of selling out Taiwan by attending the summit.

Although it is a self-ruling democracy with a fierce sense of its own identity, Taiwan has never formally declared independence from Beijing, which sees it as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Overnight around 100 protesters tried to storm the heavily-guarded parliament building in Taipei carrying "Taiwan independence" banners, but were stopped by police.

There were no arrests.

A dozen were still staging a sit-in outside parliament early Saturday morning.

Protesters also gathered at Taipei's Songshan airport where Ma gave a brief address to reporters before boarding his flight Saturday morning.

The demonstrators burned images of the two leaders with slogans calling Xi "Chinese dictator" and Ma a "traitor".

"As a president who doesn't represent public opinion, Ma doesn't have the right to meet with the leader across the strait," said one 35-year-old who gave his name as Chen.

Police said some protesters were arrested but could not immediately give numbers.

A small group of Ma supporters were also at the airport.

"The purpose of the meeting is to recount the past, look forward to the future and, through the meeting, reinforce peace across the strait and maintain (the) status quo," Ma told reporters before he left.

He added the summit would be a "new platform" for any future president of Taiwan to continue to develop cross-strait relations.

Critics have accused Ma of arranging the summit in secret as a bid to boost the ruling Kuomintang's chances at January elections, which it is tipped to lose.

Support for the KMT and for Ma personally has plunged, partly due to a China-friendly policy.


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