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Tuesday April 26, 11:37
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Taiwan’s opposition makes first authorized step to cross-Strait talks with Beijing
(by Helen Snow)
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Lien Chan, chairman of Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang, on Tuesday started his visit to China that could become the first step towards cross-Strait political dialogue.
Mr Lien left Taipei struggled by pro-independence demostrators but blessed by president Chen Shui-bian, the move which can be interpreted as the government’s intention to resume talks with China.
The meeting of Mr Lien and Hu Jintao, China’s president and secretary-general of the Chinese Communist Party, scheduled to take place on Friday.
“The government attaches great importance to these first-ever talks,” said Mr Chen.
Previously, Mr Chen supported attempts to expand economic exchanges with China but changed his attitude after Beijing’s passage of an anti-secession law which indicates the risk of force against the island.
Beijing has invited leaders of all political parties of Taiwan to visit China but with requirement for them to recognize the “one China principle” which the ruling party rejects. “The opposition can possibly deliver a clarifying message from Hu Jintao,” Mr Yang said.
However, analysts indicate many obstacles which could hamper the negotiation process before any government-to-government contact could start.
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