BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will raise the sensitive issue of Taiwan in his talks with US President Barack Obama next week, China’s government said on Wednesday, ahead of a crucial presidential election in the self-ruled island in January.
Taiwan’s China-friendly Nationalists are expected to be thrashed by the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) opposition in the election. China has been stepping up its rhetoric against the DPP as the vote nears.
“The Taiwan issue is the most important, most sensitive issue in Sino-U.S. relations,” Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular briefing.
Ma had been asked if Taiwan would feature on the Xi-Obama agenda.
The United States severed formal ties with Taiwan in 1979 but is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and arms sales always deeply anger China.
Beijing was also alarmed in June when the DPP’s presidential candidate, Tsai Ing-wen, visited Washington to rally support from US officials and politicians.
China accused him of trying to push for independence and weaken the island’s Chinese cultural heritage, even though Chen tried to maintain stable relations. Limits on cross-strait trade and transport links were slowly relaxed under his rule.
Tsai has said she favours “maintaining the status quo” when asked about her China policy. If elected, she would be Taiwan’s first female president.
Ma said mainstream Taiwan public opinion wanted to continue with developing good relations with China.China says any formal declaration of independence would give it cause to go to war. (REUTERS)
