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☆ The Man Who Shaped China’s Strongman Rule Has a New Job: Winning Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Chris Buckley | More About Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Xi Jinping held the first-ever talks in Beijing with a former president of Taiwan, seeking to press the island closer to unification, a bookish-looking official stood out for his ease around China’s leader. While others treated Mr. Xi with stiff formality, the official, Wang Huning, spoke confidently in his presence and sat next to him during the meeting, said Chiu Kun-hsuan, a member of the delegation that accompanied Ma Ying-jeou, the former Taiwanese president. The scene gave a glimpse of one of the most important, yet little understood, relationships in China: between Mr. Xi, the country’s most powerful leader in decades, and Mr. Wang, the ruling Communist Party’s most influential ideological adviser in decades. “He has the top leader’s full trust,” Professor Chiu, an emeritus scholar at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, said of Mr. Wang. “Wang Huning’s influence has been in ideology, but now in China under Xi Jinping, ideology connects everything.”

Persons: Xi Jinping, Wang Huning, Chiu Kun, Ma Ying, Xi, Wang, ”, Chiu, Mr, “ Wang Organizations: Communist, National Chengchi University Locations: Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Taiwan’s

☆ Tsai Ing-wen: the leader who put Taiwan on the map and stood up to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Wayne Chang | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

While supporters applaud Tsai for standing up to China, defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, freedom and democracy, critics blame her for straining ties with Beijing, stoking cross-strait tensions. Beijing, which deems the tacit agreement a precondition for dialogue, has cut official contact with Taipei since Tsai took office. Taiwan President Tsai inspects reservists at a training session at a military base in Taoyuan on May 11, 2023. But under Tsai, Taiwan has sought to enhance its asymmetric defense capabilities, developing and procuring cheaper and more mobile weapon systems that could be instrumental in halting a potential Chinese invasion. Taiwanese military experts have increasingly advocated for such an approach, noting that Taiwan can never match China in military might and assets.

Persons: Taipei CNN — Tsai Ing, introvert, ” Tsai, Xi Jinping, Xi, Tsai, stoking, Taiwan’s, Lai Ching, ”, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Wellington Koo, “, Vanessa Hope, Ma Ying, Taiwan's, Jose Lopes Amaral, Wen, Amanda Hsiao, Nancy Pelosi, Chien Chih, Nancy Pelosi’s, Huang, Jameson Wu, ” Sung, ” Hsiao, “ Tsai, Sawayasu Tsuji, Sung, ” Tsai’s, –, Lai Organizations: Taipei CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, World Health Organization, WHO, Atlantic, Trump, Biden, International Crisis, US, Getty, World Health Assembly, National Chengchi University, Getty Images, Taiwan’s Military Academy, ” Tsai’s DPP Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, United States, Beijing, Tsai, Asia, Wellington, Ukraine, Gaza, Japan, Czech Republic, Republic of China, Taoyuan, AFP, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ Why Xi Jinping Is Meeting With Taiwan’s Ex-President
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But on Wednesday, as the two men met again in Beijing, the prospects for an amicable settlement over Taiwan’s future seemed more distant than ever. Mr. Ma, who pursued closer engagement with China during his eight years in office, is no longer president of Taiwan. Fewer and fewer Taiwanese people now share his belief that Taiwan must see its future as a part of a greater China. Since Mr. Ma left office in 2016, Mr. Xi has frozen high-level contacts with Taiwan, sought to isolate it on the global stage and tried to intimidate it with a tightening military presence around the island. Mr. Xi is profoundly suspicious of Taiwan’s current leadership, which has sought to assert the sovereignty of the island democracy.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Ma Ying, —, Ma, Xi Organizations: Mr Locations: Taiwan, Singapore, Beijing, China

☆ China’s Xi to host former Taiwan president in Beijing, in rare meeting echoing bygone era of warmer ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Joint concerns over China’s increasing assertiveness under Xi, including toward Taiwan, are a key driver of that summit. Chinese leader Xi Jinping shakes hands with then Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou before their meeting in Singapore on November 7, 2015. Taiwan's former President Ma Ying-jeou speaks to reporters ahead of his visit to China at the Taoyuan International Airport on April 1, 2024. Ma Ying-jeou” or former chairman of the KMT, with no mention of his former role as the president of Taiwan. Reaction in TaiwanMa’s itinerary – and his meeting with Xi – has been closely watched in Taiwan.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Ma Ying, Xi, Chiang Kai, Eric Chu, Ma, ” Chu, Lai Ching, Joe Biden, Biden, Fumio Kishida, Roslan Rahman, Amanda Hsiao, “, underscoring, ’ ”, Tsai Ing, –, Lai, Lai’s, fixating, ”, ” Sung, China –, Ma’s, Hsiao, Yan Zhao, Mr, Sun, Xi –, Sung, ” Ma, James Chen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Beijing, Kuomintang, KMT, China’s, shek’s Nationalists, –, Democratic Progressive Party, CNN Beijing, Japanese, Getty, International Crisis, Atlantic, “, Taoyuan International Airport, Communists, Nationalists, Atlantic Council, Taiwan’s Tamkang University, DPP Locations: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Singapore, Washington, Japan, Philippines, AFP, Taoyuan, Guangzhou, Republic of China, Shaanxi, United States, China . Washington

☆ Beijing Deplores Taiwan’s Next President, but Welcomes an Old One
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Chris Buckley | Amy Chang Chien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As tensions fester between China and Taiwan, one elder politician from the island democracy is getting an effusive welcome on the mainland: Ma Ying-jeou, a former president. Mr. Ma’s 11-day trip across China, which was set to begin on Monday, comes at a fraught time. Beijing and Taipei have been in dispute over two Chinese fishermen who died while trying to flee a Taiwanese coast guard vessel in February, and China has sent its own coast guard ships close to a Taiwanese-controlled island near where the men died. Taiwanese officials expect China to intensify its military intimidation once the island’s next president, Lai Ching-te, takes office on May 20. His Democratic Progressive Party rejects Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of China, and Chinese officials particularly dislike Mr. Lai, often citing his 2017 description of himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan’s independence.”On the other hand, China’s warm treatment of Mr. Ma, 73, Taiwan’s president from 2008 to 2016, seems a way to emphasize that Beijing will keep an open door for politicians who favor closer ties and accept its conditions for talks.

Persons: Ma Ying, Ma’s, Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Ma Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Taiwanese

☆ China doesn't have the military power to successfully invade Taiwan, the majority of 52 US experts said in a survey
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The CSIS surveyed 52 US experts on whether they think China can successfully invade Taiwan. AdvertisementA new survey of leading experts from the US and Taiwan casts doubt on China's ability to invade Taiwan with its current military strength. CSIS also surveyed 35 experts from Taiwan, of whom only 17% said they felt China had the power to successfully execute an invasion. China could also impose a military blockade on Taiwan, which 81% of US experts believe Beijing could do, while 60% of the experts from Taiwan concurred. Around 68% of American experts think such a crisis is likely to occur.

Persons: —, China —, William Lai Ching, Tsai Ing, Xi Jinping, Ma Ying, ROSLAN RAHMAN, Lai Organizations: CSIS, Service, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Liberation Army, Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang, Getty Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Congress, Washington, Taipei . Lai

☆ Taiwan opposition rushes to register candidates after talks implode on live TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The talks were brokered by the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW), Terry Gou, who is running as an independent candidate. In one of the most dramatic moments, the KMT's presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, read a private text message from TPP candidate Ko Wen-je in which Ko said Gou needed to "find a reason" to drop out of the presidential race. Hou and Ko will on Friday morning go to the election commission to register their separate presidential runs, ahead of a 0930GMT registration deadline. Gou, who has trailed far behind in the polls, has not said whether he will also register. By contrast, a united DPP has been charging ahead in its election campaign, registering its presidential and vice presidential candidates on Tuesday.

Persons: Terry Gou, Ma Ying, Hou Yu, Eric Chu, Ko Wen, Ko, Hou, Gou, Lai Ching, Lai, Ben Blanchard, Roger Tung, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Taiwan People's Party, ih, Kuomintang, KMT, Democratic Progressive Party, Apple, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, TAIPEI, China

☆ Taiwan's opposition parties to decide on joint presidential ticket
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

(L-R) Eric Chu, Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) chairman, Hou Yu-ih, KMT presidential candidate, Ma Ying-jeou, former Taiwan president and Ke Wen-je, presidential candidate from the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) pose following a meeting in Taipei on November 15, 2023. The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. Taiwan's two main opposition parties, which have vowed to renew talks with China, agreed on Wednesday to make a decision on a joint presidential ticket for January's elections, as the front-running ruling party decried interference from Beijing. It will unite Taiwan," Hou told business leaders after the talks. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offers talks with Beijing, which has rejected the offers.

Persons: Eric Chu, Hou Yu, Ma Ying, Ke Wen, Sam Yeh, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Ko Wen, Hou, Tsai Ing, Chen Yi, Kou, Lai, Chen, Ma, Hsiao Hsu, Hsiao, China detests Lai, Ko, Terry Gou, Gou, TPP Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, ih, Taiwan People's Party, SAM YEH, Getty, Democratic Progressive, Taiwan's Tamkang University, Beijing, DPP, Apple Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, AFP, China, Beijing, U.S, United States

The issue of China, which views Taiwan as its territory, looms over the Jan. 13 parliamentary and presidential elections. It will unite Taiwan," Hou told business leaders after the talks. China cut off routine talks with Taiwan after President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP took office in 2016. OPPOSITION CHALLENGEChen Yi-fan, an assistant professor of diplomacy and international relations at Taiwan's Tamkang University, said if Hou and Kou did not work together then Lai would certainly win. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and has repeatedly offers talks with Beijing, which has rejected the offers.

Persons: Eric Chu, Hou Yu, Ma Ying, Ko Wen, Lai Ching, Democratic Progressive Party's, Hou, Tsai Ing, Chen Yi, Kou, Lai, Chen, Ma, Hsiao Hsu, Hsiao, China detests Lai, Ko, Terry Gou, Gou, TPP, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: Taiwan's Kuomintang, KMT, ih, Kuomintang, Taiwan People’s, Democratic Progressive, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwan's Tamkang University, Beijing, DPP, Apple, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, TAIPEI, China, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ In election year, Taiwan's national day becomes polarising celebration
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou speaks to guests as he attends an event at Asia Society in New York, U.S. March 1, 2017. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said on Monday he would boycott official celebrations for the island's national day this year after accusing the government of turning it into an overt attempt at pushing independence ahead of an election. Taiwan celebrates Oct. 10 as its national day, marking an uprising in 1911 that ended China's last imperial dynasty and ushered in the Republic of China. Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen, a DPP member himself, dismissed Ma's criticism, saying Ma had attended festivities previously when the English translation was Taiwan National Day. Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, will give a major speech on national day, and there will also be a military parade in front of the presidential office.

Persons: Ma Ying, Eduardo Munoz, jeou, China's, Mao Zedong's, Hou Yu, Ma, William Lai, Taiwan Premier Chen Chien, Chen, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Lai, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Taiwan, Asia Society, REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Kuomintang, KMT, Democratic Progressive Party, ih, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, The Republic of China, Taiwan Premier, Beijing

☆ Taipei mayor to visit China as tensions simmer with Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an with his team after the annual Minan civilian defense drill, which this year focuses on the response from various agencies and volunteer groups if under attack by China in front of Taipei City hall in Taipei, Taiwan May 4, 2023. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, from the main opposition party the Kuomintang, which traditionally favours close relations with China, will go to Shanghai on Aug. 29-31 for the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum, which was first held in 2010. The Taipei city government said Chiang, a rising Kuomintang star, would lead the delegation to the forum, the theme of which this year is "new trends, new development". The Kuomintang has pushed to resume contacts with China since pandemic controls were lifted, saying that dialogue was needed now more than ever given the tensions over Taiwan. China, which claims the island as its territory, has been carrying out military activities near Taiwan, including regularly sending fighter jets into the air space around it.

Persons: Chiang Wan, Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan, Chiang, Ma Ying, Ben Blanchard, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai, Kuomintang, Forum, Thomson Locations: Taipei, China, Taipei City, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Shanghai, Taipei Mayor, Taiwan's, Kuomintang

☆ China's sprawling spy agencies are designed to root out the 'five poisons' at home and abroad, British intelligence says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Yin Gang/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Xinhua via Getty ImagesIn a recent report to parliament, the British intelligence services detailed the operations and goals of the Chinese intelligence services. The Chinese intelligence services are also collecting information on the Chinese democracy movement at home and abroad — including in the US — in an attempt to subvert it. According to the British intelligence report, Xi has sought to make Chinese intelligence activity more professional through reform and investment. "In more ways than one, the broad remit of the Chinese Intelligence Services poses a significant challenge to Western attempts to counter their activity," the report said, citing assessments by British intelligence officers. "To compound the problem, it is not just the Chinese Intelligence Services: the Chinese Communist Party co-opts every state institution, company and citizen.

Persons: Yin, Ma Ying, Xi Jinping, Chuang, Gong, Dalai Lama, Murad Sezer, Xi, Xie Huanchi, hoover, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, intel, Beijing, Service, Ministry of Public Security, Yin Gang, Getty, Xinhua, of State Security, of Public Security, Force, NSA, REUTERS, CCP, of, People, US National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Chinese Intelligence Services, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: China, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, Xinhua, Taipei, Singapore, Xinjiang, Taiwan, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Istanbul, Johns

But China, which bristles at visits to Taiwan by foreign government officials, tends to ignore trips by business executives, who usually keep clear of politics. Dimon will meet bank employees and clients in Taiwan on his visit, said the source, who sought anonymity as the plans were not public, while adding that no meetings were planned with Taiwan officials. As part of his Asia tour, Dimon will also visit South Korea after the Taiwan trip, said the source. But there was no plan for President Tsai Ing-wen to meet Dimon, her office said on Friday. Dimon favours East-West "derisking" rather than decoupling, he told the three-day JPMorgan Global China Summit event in the city on Wednesday.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Andrew Collier, Dimon, Nvidia Corp's, Jensen Huang, Pat Gelsinger, Dimon's, Ma Ying, Tsai Ing, Chen Jining, Selena Li, Kane Wu, Scott Murdoch, Ben Blanchard, Emily Chan, Mrinmay Dey, Sumeet Chatterjee, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: JPMorgan Chase &, JPMorgan, Orient Capital Research, Bloomberg, Wall, U.S, Nvidia, Intel, Financial, Commission, Shanghai's Communist, JPMorgan Global China, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Asia, South Korea, East, United States, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Taiwan faces choice of 'peace and war', ex-president says after China trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou arrives at Taoyuan international airport after concluding his 12-day trip to China in Taoyuan, Taiwan April 7, 2023. Ma is the first former Taiwanese president to ever visit China. Since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, no serving island leader has visited China. The future is a choice between peace and war," Ma told reporters at Taiwan's main airport after arriving from Shanghai at the end of his 12-day visit to China. Ma said Taiwan could share a "common political basis" with China, which would be in the best interests of the people of Taiwan.

LOS ANGELES, April 4 (Reuters) - China, Taiwan, and the United States all share a common interest in ensuring this week's California stopover by Taiwan's president gets the focus each thinks it deserves, but without setting off a new crisis. It is sure to elicit a forceful reaction from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. McCarthy, as House speaker, is third in line to the U.S. leadership and he has said publicly that he does not rule out a future visit to Taiwan. Xu Xueyuan, charge d'affaires at China's Washington embassy, said last week that McCarthy meeting Tsai "could lead to another serious confrontation in the China-U.S. With an eye the Taiwan election, China invited former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT party for a visit coinciding with Tsai's U.S. stopovers.

☆ Taiwan, China must do 'everything possible' to avoid war- former president Ma
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou meets the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council Song Tao, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in handout picture released March 30, 2023. Ma Ying-jeou's Office/Handout via REUTERSTAIPEI, March 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan and China must do everything possible to avoid war and it is the responsibility of both sides' leaders to ensure peace, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou told a senior Chinese official on Thursday. Ma arrived in China on Monday, the first time a former or sitting Taiwanese president has visited the country since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists. "The two sides must maintain exchanges, cooperate together, and do everything possible to avoid war and conflict." Ma, who was in office from 2008-2016, met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late in 2015 shortly before current Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was elected.

☆ 'We are all Chinese', former Taiwan president says while visiting China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Nicoco Chan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou gestures as he arrives at an airport in Shanghai, China March 27, 2023. Ma, in office from 2008-2016, is the first former or current Taiwanese president to visit China since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of a civil war with the Communists. He is visiting amid heightened tension as Beijing uses political and military means to try and pressure democratically governed Taiwan into accepting Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly offered talks with China, but has been rejected as China considers her a separatist. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Singapore in 2015.

☆ 'We're all Chinese': Ex Taiwan president in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Politics'We're all Chinese': Ex Taiwan president in ChinaPostedTaiwan's former President Ma Ying-jeou is making a historic trip to China, the first past or current Taiwanese leader to visit since the 1949 civil war between them. It's being billed as an effort to defuse hostilities, but is also condemned by Taiwan's ruling political party. Matthew Larotonda reports.

☆ Taiwan told to 'pack up and leave' Honduras after ties severed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Gustavo Palencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A vehicle leaves the Taiwan Embassy after Honduras has given Taiwan 30 days to vacate its embassy after severing relations with Taiwan in favor of China, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras March 26, 2023. China has long argued that democratically ruled Taiwan is part of its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. In his remarks, Garcia said 30 days "is more than enough time to pack up and leave," adding that officials aim for an "orderly, friendly" exit. Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesman Jeff Liu said 30 days was an "international norm", and that they would comment further later. In its own statement on Monday, the conservative National Party pledged to re-establish ties with Taiwan if it can retake the Honduran presidency in 2026.

[1/5] Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou speaks to the media at the airport before departing on a visit to China, as for the first time a former or current Taiwanese leader will be visiting since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949, in Taoyuan, Taiwan March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 27 (Reuters) - Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left for China on Monday on a landmark trip, saying he hoped to bring about peace and improve relations through the interactions of young people. Ma, in office from 2008-2016, will be the first former or current Taiwanese president to visit China since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of a civil war with the Communists, where it remains to this day. Ma met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late 2015 shortly before the current Taiwan president, Tsai Ing-wen, won an election. The KMT says outreach to China is needed now more than ever given the tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

☆ Former Taiwan president Ma open to meeting leaders on landmark China trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ma met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late 2015 shortly before now Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen won a presidential election. "Can't Ma Ying-jeou see China's true nature?" Given that neither Taiwan nor China's governments recognise each other, Ma will simply be referred to as "Mr. Ma Ying-jeou" while he is in China, Hsiao said, to avoid thorny political issues. The KMT says outreach to China is needed now more than ever given the tensions across the Taiwan Strait. If young people can communicate and have dialogue, it will definitely reduce the current tensions," Hsiao said of Ma's thoughts on the visit.

☆ Former Taiwan president Ma to visit China in landmark trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI, March 19 (Reuters) - Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will visit China this month, his office said on Sunday, the first time a former or current Taiwanese leader has visited since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949. Ma, who remains a senior member of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) opposition party, held a landmark meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore in late 2015, shortly before current Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was elected. Ma's office said that he would visit China from March 27 to April 7 and go to the cities of Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing and Shanghai. Reporting by Ben Blanchard Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. the person said, adding that the calls would connect but Chinese officials wouldn't pick up. Based on a long-standing practice, faxes continue to be exchanged between two semi-official organisations that handle routine affairs: Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. The council told Reuters that while Chinese officials do not reply directly, they have handled Taiwanese requests when needed or responded through public statements. China this year labeled Tsai's administration "evil" while Taiwan called China "incredibly absurd".

She also outlined steps to boost the military including with mass production of precision missiles and warships. Xi is widely expected to win his third term at the one-every-five-years party congress. "When we say achievement, for Taiwan it's definitely not a good sign, it's not a good thing," Lin said. One senior Taiwanese security official said Xi's third term would bring "unpredictable tensions" across the strait. But China has refused to speak to his successor, Tsai, since she was first elected in 2016, believing her to be a separatist.

☆ China willing to make effort for peaceful 'reunification' with Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Martin Quin Pollard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File PhotoBEIJING, Sept 21 (Reuters) - China is willing to make the utmost effort to strive for a peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan, a Chinese government spokesperson said on Wednesday, following weeks of military manoeuvres and war games by Beijing near the island. China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future. China has been carrying out drills near Taiwan since early last month, after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, including firing missiles into waters near the island. Taiwan's government says that as the island has never been ruled by the People's Republic of China, its sovereignty claims are void.

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