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Beijing muffles talk
of Ma-Xi meeting at next APEC forum
Staff writer, with CNA, BEIJING
Chances are slim that the leaders of Taiwan and China will meet on the sidelines
of an APEC forum after a Chinese official said that such a meeting need not take
place at international events.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Fan Liqing (范麗青) made the statement at a
regular news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
She was asked about her views on commentaries in Taiwanese media suggesting that
next year’s APEC leaders’ summit to be held in Beijing would be a good setting
for a meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Chinese President Xi
Jinping (習近平).
“Since a meeting between the top leaders on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait
is a matter for Chinese people themselves to tackle, it does not need to take
place on an international occasion,” Fan said.
She said that China has for years advocated a meeting between the leaders of the
two sides and adopted an active, open attitude toward any proposal that could
contribute to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
As for Taiwan’s participation in the annual summit, Fan said the issue should be
handled in accordance with APEC protocols and regulations.
Because of Beijing’s objections, Taiwan’s president has been barred from
attending the APEC leaders’ summit in person and instead has to name an envoy to
attend the meeting on their behalf each year.
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