Chinese President Xi meets former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou on pro-unification visit
Apr 10, 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in Beijing in a bid to promote unification between the sides that separated amid civil war in 1949
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with
former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou
in Beijing Wednesday in a bid to promote unification between the sides that separated amid civil war in 1949.Ma left office almost two decades ago and was largely excluded from the opposition Nationalist Party’s failed campaign to retake the presidency in January, a concession to the electorate's strong opposition to political unification with China and politicians seen as willing to compromise Taiwan's security.
He follows a long line of politicians from the Nationalists, also known as the KMT, who have been invited to China by its authoritarian one-party government and given VIP treatment on visits around the country.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. Beijing sends navy ships and warplanes around the island on a daily basis in hopes of wearing down Taiwan's defensives and intimidating the population.
“The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all Chinese. There is no dispute that cannot be resolved, there is no problem that cannot be discussed, and no force can separate us," Xi told Ma.
"Differences in systems cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the same country and nation,” he added.
Ma responded that a new war between the sides would be “an unbearable burden for the Chinese nation.”
"The Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will definitely have enough wisdom to handle cross-Strait disputes peacefully and avoid conflicts,” Ma said.
Independence leaning president-elect Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party won
the January election
handily and his vice president-elect Bi-khim Hsiao has been visiting nations friendly to Taiwan in Europe and elsewhere ahead of taking office.Ma's 11-day trip, ostensibly at the head of a student delegation, underlines continued interactions in education, business and culture despite Beijing’s threat to use military force against the self-governing island democracy to achieve unification.
Toward the end of his second term in 2015, Ma held a historic meeting with Xi in Singapore, which has close contacts with both sides. The meeting — the first between the leaders of China and Taiwan in more than half a century — produced few tangible outcomes, and Ma’s Nationalist Party lost the next presidential election to Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP.
Lai Ching-te, currently vice president, is despised by Beijing for his opposition to unification. The Nationalists recovered a narrow majority in the legislature but their influence on foreign policy and other national issues remains limited.
Taiwan has been boosting military relations with allies such as the U.S. and Japan while maintaining close economic ties with the Chinese mainland.
MORE NEWS
Dinosaur's rare skeleton is one of the world's most expensive fossils, fetches over USD 47 million against expected estimate worth around USD 9 million
Nanotyrannus was about half the length of an adult T. rex, and the two creatures coexisted during the Cretaceous period some 67 million years ago.
Eric Swalwell controversy: Who is Stephen Cloobeck? Why has FBI raided billionaire donor's Beverly Hills mansion?
Stephen Cloobeck, who founded the Diamond Resorts International timeshare company and ran last year for California governor, contributed more than $23,000 to Swalwell’s congressional campaigns since 2017, federal campaign finance records show.
TVS Motor’s Venu Srinivasan and daughter Lakshmi file caveats against each other over inheritance
Venu Srinivasan and his daughter Lakshmi Venu have initiated caveats against each other regarding family business matters. The filings occurred in Chennai’s civil and commercial courts earlier this month. While Venu and his son Sudarshan claim a previous agreement exists, Lakshmi is advocating for a fair settlement. Mallika and Lakshmi have expressed their intention for an amicable resolution through discussions.
We are aware of everything, will decide: Supreme Court on Chief Election Commissioner row
The Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding a plea from Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen. The plea challenges the changes made to Form 6 by the Election Commission of India. During the hearing, senior advocates presented arguments on the perceived tampering of electoral roll forms. The Election Commission defended its actions, asserting that decisions were made unanimously.
Delhi may raise agricultural land circle rates to ₹5 crore per acre
The proposed changes seek to bridge the gap between official land valuations and market prices across Delhi’s districts and localities
Nations get moving on Paris Climate Accord, but the pace is slow: UNFCCC
The reports assess the progress countries have made towards tackling climate change and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries are investing in the clean energy transition, adapting to the impacts of climate change and building resilience, and there are international financial flows to climate action, the reports said.
Congress says Election Commission of India's 'affidavit to Supreme Court deceptive'
Congress has accused the Election Commission of India of engaging in deceptive practices related to Form 6. The party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh highlighted inconsistencies in the ECI's affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court. Ramesh criticised the ECI for claiming unanimity in decision-making while revealing widespread media allegations of malpractice. The allegations suggest serious legal violations by the Chief Election Commissioner.
India in striking distance of 8% growth as reforms boost economy: Shaktikanta Das
Das said the BFSI sector has a crucial role to play in India's journey from a lower-middle-income economy to a high-income economy, through its intermediation in allocation of financial resources. He said the sector would be required to support India's next-gen Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), be the frontline of green and transition finance and become the catalyst for democratising financial inclusion to support this journey.
Grand Theft Auto VI may be locked at 30 FPS on PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S and PS5 Pro: Report
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on November 19, 2026, exclusively for the latest gaming consoles. There are indications that the game could be limited to 30 FPS, which may impact overall gaming experiences. However, it is expected to showcase incredible graphics and a richly populated open world. Although a PC version is still under wraps, it could potentially deliver superior performance on advanced setups.