From Reuters:
Chinese President Hu Jintao offered on Monday to enter into negotiations with Taiwan to reach a peace agreement in an overture to the self-ruled island which China claims as its own.
Addressing the opening of the Communist Party’s 17th Congress, Hu warned the democratic island against formally declaring independence, but did not take the opportunity to threaten force as predecessors have in the past.
“We would like to make a solemn appeal: on the basis of the one-China principle let us discuss a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides (and) reach a peace agreement,” Hu said, reading from a prepared statement. [Full Text]
Read also China Offers Taiwan Peace Ahead of Island’s Election by Allen T. Cheng and James Peng.
