“But to let the people know in such a hasty and chaotic manner is damaging to Taiwan’s democracy”. Democratic Progressive Party spokesman Cheng Yun-peng was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.
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The summit may be historic, but will it affect the election, where voters will elect Ma’s successor and a new legislature?
A few said that could backfire given increasing anti-China protests in Taiwan, especially among the young.
Singapore’s former foreign minister George Yeo applauded the mainland and Taiwan for their pragmatic approach towards reaching a consensus. In return for the worldwide community’s recognition of Beijing’s right to the island, Taiwan has received a kind of de-facto independence, enjoying numerous benefits of statehood without the global tension – or perhaps even regional war – that would result from China actually trying to assert territorial control.
Taiwan’s official name is the “Republic of China” (ROC), tracing its founding to 1911 on the Chinese mainland after the collapse of China’s last imperial dynasty.
“The objective of President Ma’s visit is to secure cross-strait peace and maintain the status quo of the Taiwan Straits”, Chen said in a statement. “No agreement will be signed, nor any joint statement be released”, he said, adding that Massachusetts will hold an global press conference on Thursday.
Zhang Zhijun, head of the Chinese Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office and the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said, “They will exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations”. Last night upon hearing the news, Ke Chien-ming, a DPP leader in parliament criticized Massachusetts. “The symbolism of the meeting will alter the psychology of cross-strait relations in a positive way for years to come”, Yeo, the chairman of Kerry Logistics, said. While economic and social gaps between the two were narrowing, their political differences remained wide, he said. Others demanded President Massachusetts to leave office.
The meeting would have been more than symbolic if it was held at the start of Ma’s term of office, or if his ruling Kuomintang party was poised to win Taiwan’s general election in January. “This has to be the basis of the relationship”. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a briefing on Tuesday it was “too early” to call the meeting a turning point in relations, and reiterated USA support for a “stable and peaceful cross-strait relationship”, as well as its one-China policy.
Xi and Ma’s meeting in Singapore will see them refer to each other simply as “Mister”. The Chinese government has been threatening to use force since 2005 if Taiwan attempts to gain independence. But in 1979, the United States established full diplomatic relations with Beijing.
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The KMT suffered its heaviest-ever local election defeat a year ago, with its China-friendly strategy a major factor. It is unclear whether certain crucial questions, like China’s estimated 2,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan, will be on the agenda.
