Historic China-Taiwan meet scheduled (Updated)

04 พฤศจิกายน 2558

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore this weekend in the first meeting between leaders from the rivals since 1949. Taiwanese pro-independence groups say the move is aimed at influencing the upcoming presidential election.

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore this weekend in the first meeting between leaders from the rivals since 1949. Taiwanese pro-independence groups say the move is aimed at influencing the upcoming presidential election.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Afternoon update

Protests begin against China-Taiwan summit

Pro-Taiwan independence political groups display placards during a demonstration outside the parliament in Taipei on Wecdnesday against the upcoming summit with China. AFP PHOTO / Sam Yeh

Around 50 protesters from opposition political parties gathered outside the parliament building in Taipei Wednesday morning as the parliamentary speaker was briefed on details of the historic China-Taiwan summit this weekend .

Analysts say the summit is likely an attempt to boost Beijing's image ahead of elections on the island, but one that could alienate voters wary of mainland meddling.

The surprise summit will come less then three months before presidential elections in Taiwan that the ruling China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) is expected to lose.

"This is a powerful initiative and its objective is obvious: help as much as possible (KMT candidate) Eric Chu in his presidential bid," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Taiwan leader Ma to meet Chinese President Xi: officials

Taipei, Nov 4, 2015, AFP – Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore this weekend, the two sides said, in what will be the first meeting between leaders from the rivals since the end of a civil war in 1949.

The two presidents will "exchange views on cross-Strait issues" Ma's spokesman Charles Chen said Tuesday, referring to the stretch of water separating mainland China and Taiwan.

The intention of the visit is to "secure cross-Strait peace," but no agreement will be signed, he said.

China confirmed the meeting in a short dispatch on the state Xinhua news agency early Wednesday, saying the two sides would "exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations".

The surprise meeting follows a gradual warming of relations with Beijing since Ma of the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) came to power in 2008.

Beijing still considers the island part of its territory, even though the two sides have been governed separately since Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek and his KMT forces fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists.

The head of Taiwan's top China policy decision-making body, the Mainland Affairs Council, was expected to give more details about the talks.

Ma's hopes for a meeting with Xi have previously been dashed, despite improved relations.

He had hoped to meet the Chinese leader at an APEC meeting in Beijing in November but said China had refused.

"This is a milestone in cross-Strait relations," said Professor Chao Chun-shan, an expert in mainland affairs at Tamkang University in Taipei.

"It should be helpful for the stabilisation of the region," he told the Apple Daily.

But some opposition political parties expressed concern over the meeting and called on supporters to protest on Wednesday outside parliament.

While ties with China have warmed under Ma, public sentiment has turned against closer relations as fears over Beijing's influence grow.

Ma will step down next year after a maximum two terms and the main opposition China-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is expected to win the presidential election in January.

A senior DPP spokesman told local media the party would not comment until further details of the visit were released.

The KMT suffered its heaviest-ever local election defeat last year, with its China-friendly strategy a major factor.

While closer ties with Beijing have brought trade pacts and a tourism boom, many voters feel big business has benefited, rather than ordinary Taiwanese people.

There are also concerns over lack of transparency – last year saw the unprecedented occupation of parliament by student protesters angered by a trade agreement they said had been made in secret.

But Ma has repeatedly defended his China-friendly policies, saying they have brought stability to the region.

The KMT adheres to the "1992 consensus" – a tacit agreement between the party and Beijing which acknowledges there is "one China," but allows each side their own interpretation.

Ma has warned against the consequences of diverging from the 1992 consensus, which the DPP does not recognise.

DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that she will maintain the status quo if elected president in January, but is likely to face pressure from pro-independent voices within her own party.