Top political leaders from Taiwan and China met for the first time in six years Monday. They held talks that observers say are aimed at increasing support for the island’s ruling party.
The chairman of Taiwan’s Nationalist Party, Eric Chu, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Mr. Xi is also the head of China’s Communist Party.
Mr. Chu noted his party’s support for eventual unification with China. He also called for more involvement for Taiwan in efforts aimed at reducing barriers in the area.
During his visit, Mr. Chu repeated Taiwan’s request to join China’s new development bank. China is concerned about the island joining the bank using a name that might suggest it is an independent country.
China and Taiwan split during a civil war in 1949. The government in Beijing considers Taiwan a rebel province and has threatened to use force, if necessary, to bring it under Chinese control.
