BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese language President Xi Jinping informed former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Wednesday that exterior inference couldn’t cease the “household reunion” between the 2 sides of the Taiwan Strait, and that there are not any points that can’t be mentioned.
Because the defeated Republic of China authorities fled to Taiwan in 1949 after shedding a civil battle to Mao Zedong’s communists, no serving Taiwanese chief has visited China.
Ma, president from 2008 to 2016, final yr turned the primary former Taiwanese chief to go to China, and is now on his second journey to the nation, at a time of simmering army rigidity throughout the strait.
Ma had been extensively anticipated to fulfill Xi this time round, having first met Xi in Singapore in late 2015 for a landmark summit shortly earlier than the present Taiwan president, Tsai Ing-wen, received election.
Assembly Ma in Beijing’s Nice Corridor of the Folks, the place international leaders usually maintain talks with high Chinese language officers, Xi mentioned that folks on either side of the strait are Chinese language.
“Exterior interference can’t cease the historic development of reunion of the nation and household,” Xi mentioned, in feedback reported by Taiwanese media.
Xi didn’t elaborate however in Chinese language terminology referring to exterior interference over Taiwan is usually aimed on the assist Taipei will get from Western international locations like the US, particularly arms gross sales which infuriate Beijing.
Folks on either side of the strait are Chinese language, Xi mentioned.
“There isn’t a rancour that can’t be resolved, no downside that can’t be mentioned, and no pressure that may separate us.”.
China has by no means renounced using pressure to carry democratically-governed Taiwan below its management, and has ramped up army and political stress to say its sovereignty claims.
Ma informed Xi that tensions have prompted unease for a lot of Taiwanese.
“If there’s a battle between the 2 sides, it will likely be insufferable for the Chinese language individuals,” Ma mentioned, utilizing a time period that refers to people who find themselves ethnically Chinese language reasonably than their nationality.
“Chinese language on either side of the strait completely have sufficient knowledge to deal with all disputes peacefully and keep away from heading into battle.”
Responding to the assembly, Taiwan’s China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council mentioned it deeply regretted that Ma didn’t publicly convey Taiwan’s individuals’s insistence on defending the sovereignty and democratic system of the Republic of China, which stays Taiwan’s formal identify.
Beijing ought to cease intimidating Taiwan and resolve its variations with Taipei by respectful, rational dialogue, it added.
“MR. MA YING-JEOU”
Xi known as Ma “Mr. Ma Ying-jeou” reasonably than former president, given neither the Chinese language nor Taiwanese governments formally recognise the opposite. Ma known as Xi by title as head of the Communist Celebration – common secretary.
Tsai and her authorities reject China’s territorial claims, saying solely the island’s individuals can resolve their future.
China says it’ll solely speak to Tsai if she accepts that either side of the strait are a part of “one China”, which she has refused to do.
Xi has solely hardly ever made public remarks about Taiwan in current months.
Chatting with U.S. President Joe Biden in early April, Xi urged Washington to translate “Biden’s dedication of not supporting ‘Taiwan independence'” into concrete actions.
Xi has additionally not commented publicly on Taiwan’s January presidential election, received by present Vice President Lai Ching-te, seen by Beijing as a harmful separatist and who takes workplace on Could 20.
Ma stays a senior member of Taiwan’s predominant opposition social gathering the Kuomintang (KMT), which in January misplaced the presidential election for the third time in a row, however has no official social gathering place.
The KMT advocates shut ties with China and dialogue, however strongly denies being pro-Beijing.
(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; writing by Ben Blanchard; modifying by Jason Neely and Shri Navaratnam)
