Protests in Taipei ahead of China-Taiwan summit
Protests broke out in the capital city of Taipei where demonstrators gathered outside the parliament against upcoming Taiwan's historic summit with China. The protests were being led by legislative candidate Huang Kuo-chang, a leader of the Sunflower Movement, which in 2014 opposed a planned trade deal with China. The protestors said they were worried about China's growing influence on the island.
Status of Taiwan
The political status of Taiwan has been unresolved and remains an issue.The Republic of China (ROC) originally based in mainland China, governs Taiwan, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands, following its loss of the mainland China territory in 1949 in the Chinese Civil War.
Cross Strait Relations - Early years
Cross-Strait relations are the relations between mainland China and Taiwan, which are separated by the Taiwan Strait in the west Pacific Ocean, and in particular between their respective governments: People's Republic of China (PRC) - China and Republic of China (ROC) - Taiwan. Since 1949, the relations between China and Taiwan have been characterized by limited contact, tensions, and instability.
Cross Strait Relations - Recent Years
The People's Republic remains hostile to any formal declaration of independence and maintains its claim over Taiwan. At the same time, non-governmental and semi-governmental exchanges between the two sides have been increasing. From 2008, negotiations began to restore the "three links" (transportation, commerce, and communications) between the two sides, cut off since 1949.
China, Taiwan to hold meeting after 66 years
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore on 7 Nov, in what will be the first meeting between leaders from the two rival nations since the end of a civil war in 1949. The two leaders would exchange views on promoting development during the summit. The meeting comes less than three months before Taiwan's general elections.
What is the Sunflower movement?
The Sunflower movement is a protest driven by students between 18 March and 10 April 2014 in Taiwan. The activists protested the passing of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA) by the ruling party Kuomintang (KMT) at the legislature without clause-by-clause review.
