“China and Taiwan hold historic talks”
By Osman Monshi, An MSc Student at BPP University, UK
The two governments have not met since they split 65 years ago, following a brutal civil war that left millions dead. 
"That we can sit here today, formally getting together, formally holding meetings, together exploring issues that people on both sides of the strait care about - this represents a new chapter for cross-strait relations, and is a day worth recording," Wang said in initial remarks, AFP reported based on a statement.
Wang said he hoped Zhang could visit Taiwan "in the foreseeable future".
Taiwan is likely to focus on reaping practical outcomes from the discussions, such as securing economic benefits or security assurances, while China has one eye on long-term integration of the island, analysts say.
Tuesday's meeting is the fruit of years of efforts to improve relations.
But Beijing's communist authorities still aim to reunite all of China under their rule, and view Taiwan as a rebel region awaiting reunification with the mainland.
"For us to simply sit at the same table, sit down to discuss issues, is already not an easy thing," Wang said.
Shared history
Nanjing was China's capital when it was ruled by Wang's Kuomintang, or Nationalist, party in the first half of the 20th century.
When they lost China's civil war to Mao Zedong's communists in 1949, two million supporters of the Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan.
The island and the mainland have been governed separately ever since, both claiming to be the true government of China and only re-establishing contact in the 1990s.
Over the decades Taiwan has become increasingly isolated diplomatically, losing the Chinese seat at the UN in 1971 and seeing the number of countries recognising it steadily decrease.
However, its military is supplied by the United States and has enjoyed a long economic boom.
(Source: Al Jazeera and agencies)
No comments:
Post a Comment