From Reuters:
Negotiators from China and Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing regards as its own territory, meet this week for the first time in nine years, but backsliding on the direct flights deal they are set to agree may cool the mood of detente.
Taiwan’s top China negotiator, P.K. Chiang, will lead a team to Beijing from June 11-14 to negotiate with his counterpart, Chen Yunlin, following recent warm but informal meetings between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Taiwan leaders.
China and Taiwan last spoke formally in 1999, before former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui enraged Beijing by describing ties as “a special state-to-state relationship”.