After being trapped inside a Taipei hotel with thousands of pro-Taiwanese activists waiting outside on Thursday, China’s top envoy to Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, will meet with the island’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, on the last day of his historic visit. From Bloomberg:
Taiwan’s future will be decided by its 23 million people, Ma said today at a press briefing in Taipei ahead of his meeting with Chen. This week’s talks don’t threaten the island’s sovereignty, they benefit both sides, he said. Ma said his meeting with Chen won’t involve any negotiations.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory, making cross- strait diplomacy a delicate dance of words and moves since Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang government was defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist forces in 1949. Taiwanese newspapers have been speculating how Chen will address Ma during their meeting.
Calling Ma “President” could be read to mean that he recognizes Taiwan’s sovereignty; addressing him as “Mr.” may be too informal.
Taiwan’s China Post newspaper today reported, without identifying sources, that both sides have held several rounds of talks about the so-called title issue, which the newspaper said is one of the most sensitive matters in cross-strait relations.
