External interference cannot stop 'family reunion' with Taiwan: China President Xi Jinping

NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, telling him that external interference cannot hinder the ‘family reunion’ between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Xi stressed on the importance of dialogue, stating that all issues can be discussed.

This meeting holds significance as it marks a rare interaction between leaders from Taiwan and China since the establishment of the Republic of China government in Taiwan in 1949.

Ma, who served as Taiwan’s president from 2008 to 2016, made history last year by becoming the first former Taiwanese leader to visit China. During his current visit, it was anticipated that Ma would meet with Xi, as they had previously held a landmark summit in 2015.

Xi reaffirmed the shared identity of both sides of the strait as Chinese and spoke against the futility of external interference, particularly from Western countries like the United States. “External interference cannot stop the historical trend of reunion of the country and family,” Xi said, in comments reported by Taiwanese media.

Xi highlighted the mutual Chinese identity of people on both sides of the strait and expressed a willingness to address any unresolved issues through discussion. “There is no rancour that cannot be resolved, no problem that cannot be discussed, and no force that can separate us,” he said.

China’s stance on Taiwan remains firm, with Xi reiterating the possibility of using force to assert control over the island. Notably, Xi addressed Ma as ‘Mr. Ma Ying-jeou,’ reflecting the lack of formal recognition between the Chinese and Taiwanese governments.

Taiwan, a democratic nation, rejects China’s territorial claims and insists on the right of its people to determine their own future. While the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s main opposition party, advocates for closer ties with China, it denies any pro-Beijing affiliations.

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