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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Taiwan leader meets China envoy | Taiwan leader meets China envoy |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has met China's senior envoy to the island in the highest level contact since 1949. | Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has met China's senior envoy to the island in the highest level contact since 1949. |
| The brief meeting was brought forward five hours to avoid continuing protests by Taiwanese pro-independence groups. | |
| Mr Ma defended his agreements with Beijing, saying they did not damage Taiwan's sovereignty. | Mr Ma defended his agreements with Beijing, saying they did not damage Taiwan's sovereignty. |
| The Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin, has signed economic agreements with Taiwan but has also been the target of street protesters since he arrived on Monday. | |
| On Wednesday night, crowds mobbed the hotel in which Mr Chen was staying, preventing him leaving the building. | |
| Thursday's meeting between Mr Chen and President Ma lasted just five minutes and involved the exchange of gifts - a vase from Mr Ma and a large scroll painting of a horse from Mr Chen. | |
| Mr Ma said the meeting "symbolises a major step forward for cross-strait ties," and will "contribute to cross-strait stability and prosperity". | Mr Ma said the meeting "symbolises a major step forward for cross-strait ties," and will "contribute to cross-strait stability and prosperity". |
| "But we cannot deny that differences and challenges still exist, such as Taiwan's security and Taiwan's position in the international community. | "But we cannot deny that differences and challenges still exist, such as Taiwan's security and Taiwan's position in the international community. |
| "In the future both sides should see the reality and should not deny each other's existence in order to promote the welfare of the people and cross-strait peace and to resolve our differences," he said in comments broadcast live. | "In the future both sides should see the reality and should not deny each other's existence in order to promote the welfare of the people and cross-strait peace and to resolve our differences," he said in comments broadcast live. |
| He is the first leader of Taiwan to meet with a senior Chinese official since the end of a civil war in 1949 which saw the communists take power in Beijing, and the Kuomintang retreat to Taiwan to create a self-governing entity which China still claims as its own. | He is the first leader of Taiwan to meet with a senior Chinese official since the end of a civil war in 1949 which saw the communists take power in Beijing, and the Kuomintang retreat to Taiwan to create a self-governing entity which China still claims as its own. |
| Late-night protest | Late-night protest |
| Days of vociferous protest by Taiwanese who claim Mr Ma is selling out their independent identity led to a change of schedule for the high-level meeting. | Days of vociferous protest by Taiwanese who claim Mr Ma is selling out their independent identity led to a change of schedule for the high-level meeting. |
| Mr Chen's visit has already resulted in the signing of trade deals | Mr Chen's visit has already resulted in the signing of trade deals |
| Rowdy protesters still gathered outside the venue, one day after hundreds of protesters confined Mr Chen to a hotel where he was having dinner until well after midnight. | Rowdy protesters still gathered outside the venue, one day after hundreds of protesters confined Mr Chen to a hotel where he was having dinner until well after midnight. |
| Taiwanese pro-independence groups accuse Mr Ma of selling out sovereignty in return for lucrative business deals. | Taiwanese pro-independence groups accuse Mr Ma of selling out sovereignty in return for lucrative business deals. |
| Mr Ma's overtures, aimed at ending decades of political rivalry with Beijing, have sparked fierce protests in Taiwan since August. | Mr Ma's overtures, aimed at ending decades of political rivalry with Beijing, have sparked fierce protests in Taiwan since August. |
| Thousands of police have been deployed to ensure Mr Chen's safety during his visit, after his deputy Zhang Mingqing was knocked to the ground by protesters during a visit last month. | Thousands of police have been deployed to ensure Mr Chen's safety during his visit, after his deputy Zhang Mingqing was knocked to the ground by protesters during a visit last month. |
| No compromise? | No compromise? |
| Before meeting Mr Chen, Mr Ma addressed Taiwan through a press conference, saying the negotiations were "mutually beneficial to create a win-win situation for both sides, which will benefit Taiwan. | Before meeting Mr Chen, Mr Ma addressed Taiwan through a press conference, saying the negotiations were "mutually beneficial to create a win-win situation for both sides, which will benefit Taiwan. |
| "I did not concede an inch of Taiwan's sovereignty so as president I have not made any mistakes. | "I did not concede an inch of Taiwan's sovereignty so as president I have not made any mistakes. |
| "The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent country," he said, using the formal name for Taiwan and the island's way of differentiating itself from the People's Republic of China. | "The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent country," he said, using the formal name for Taiwan and the island's way of differentiating itself from the People's Republic of China. |
| Deals were signed to introduce direct cargo shipping and postal services, increase passenger flights, shorten existing routes across the Taiwan Strait, and allow more mainland tourists to visit Taiwan. | Deals were signed to introduce direct cargo shipping and postal services, increase passenger flights, shorten existing routes across the Taiwan Strait, and allow more mainland tourists to visit Taiwan. |
| Closer cooperation was promised on food safety. | Closer cooperation was promised on food safety. |
| The two sides also agreed a wildlife swap, with China receiving a deer and a Formosa serow, a goat-like animal native to Taiwan, in exchange for two pandas. | The two sides also agreed a wildlife swap, with China receiving a deer and a Formosa serow, a goat-like animal native to Taiwan, in exchange for two pandas. |
| Previously, sovereignty issues involving vessels and crews forced costly detours through third countries, while China-Taiwan flights were forced to stop in Hong Kong or Macau. | Previously, sovereignty issues involving vessels and crews forced costly detours through third countries, while China-Taiwan flights were forced to stop in Hong Kong or Macau. |