It has been called a historic handshake. And rightfully. The presidents of China and Taiwan yesterday overcame decades of enmity and acrimony and shook hands and exchanged warm words in the first summit since the two sides’ traumatic split in 1949. Cameras clicked frantically capturing the rare occasion as China’s Xi Jinping and Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou shook hands for more than a minute and smiled for a mass of reporters before their talks in Singapore. China and Taiwan split in 1949 when the Kuomintang lost to the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war and set up a new government in Taiwan.
Such a handshake was considered unthinkable until recently. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland. But many Taiwanese see it as independent and are concerned at China’s growing and assertive influence. But relations between the two sides improved under Ma since he took office in 2008, with better economic relations, improved tourism links and a trade deal.
Both leaders later sat down across a table for talks. “We are brothers connected by flesh even if our bones are broken. We are a family whose blood is thicker than water,” Xi said, adding that “no matter what kind of winds and rains are experienced by compatriots on the two sides, no matter how long divisions last, there is no power that can separate us.” And Ma said: “Behind us there is more than six decades of cross-strait separation. Now before our eyes are the common fruits of the policy of replacing opposition with dialogue.”
According to experts, it’s not clear why the meeting happened at this time though some find political reasons behind the move. Ma has built his presidency on closer cooperation and relations with Beijing. There is a presidential election in Taiwan in January and the president could be thinking this meeting will help improve his party’s prospects. The party is currently trailing in opinion polls. The meeting and talks will send a message to Taiwanese that China is far friendlier to a government of Ma’s nationalist party than one formed by the opposition, which has been trying for independence for Taiwan.
It will be premature to expect too much from the current talks especially with Ma out of office soon and his ruling party expected to lose in January polls to an opposition that distrusts China. But the symbolism of the meeting can’t be underestimated. Washington welcomed the meeting and called for “further progress by both sides toward building ties, reducing tensions, and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
It has been called a historic handshake. And rightfully. The presidents of China and Taiwan yesterday overcame decades of enmity and acrimony and shook hands and exchanged warm words in the first summit since the two sides’ traumatic split in 1949. Cameras clicked frantically capturing the rare occasion as China’s Xi Jinping and Taiwan’s Ma Ying-jeou shook hands for more than a minute and smiled for a mass of reporters before their talks in Singapore. China and Taiwan split in 1949 when the Kuomintang lost to the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war and set up a new government in Taiwan.
Such a handshake was considered unthinkable until recently. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland. But many Taiwanese see it as independent and are concerned at China’s growing and assertive influence. But relations between the two sides improved under Ma since he took office in 2008, with better economic relations, improved tourism links and a trade deal.
Both leaders later sat down across a table for talks. “We are brothers connected by flesh even if our bones are broken. We are a family whose blood is thicker than water,” Xi said, adding that “no matter what kind of winds and rains are experienced by compatriots on the two sides, no matter how long divisions last, there is no power that can separate us.” And Ma said: “Behind us there is more than six decades of cross-strait separation. Now before our eyes are the common fruits of the policy of replacing opposition with dialogue.”
According to experts, it’s not clear why the meeting happened at this time though some find political reasons behind the move. Ma has built his presidency on closer cooperation and relations with Beijing. There is a presidential election in Taiwan in January and the president could be thinking this meeting will help improve his party’s prospects. The party is currently trailing in opinion polls. The meeting and talks will send a message to Taiwanese that China is far friendlier to a government of Ma’s nationalist party than one formed by the opposition, which has been trying for independence for Taiwan.
It will be premature to expect too much from the current talks especially with Ma out of office soon and his ruling party expected to lose in January polls to an opposition that distrusts China. But the symbolism of the meeting can’t be underestimated. Washington welcomed the meeting and called for “further progress by both sides toward building ties, reducing tensions, and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
