Presidents of China, Taiwan to hold historic meeting

The presidents of China and Taiwan will meet this weekend in Singapore, the two sides said Wednesday, in the first such talks between the rivals since they split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

Seen as an attempt to boost the pro-Beijing Kuomintang's chances in Taiwan's presidential elections in January, the surprise meeting is likely to rattle voters already concerned about Beijing's growing influence on the island. 

It follows a swift warming of relations with Beijing since Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) came to power in 2008.

The United States will be closely watching the summit between its major rival, China, and regional ally Taiwan -- the White House gave the meeting a cautious welcome.

Analysts said the US has given a tepid response because, while it supports the recent thaw and the benefit to regional stability, it believes ties between Taipei and Beijing have become too close under Ma.

China hailed the talks as a milestone in a dispatch on the state Xinhua news agency that said the two sides would "exchange views on promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations", referring to the stretch of water that separates them.

Ma's spokesman said that the goal is to "secure cross-Strait peace," but that there would be no agreement signed nor any joint statement issued.

Beijing still considers the island part of its territory, even though they have been governed separately since Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek and his KMT forces fled to Taiwan after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists.

To avoid the risk of a protocol problem over the title "president", Xinhua cited Zhang as saying that the two leaders will call each other "Mister".

The historic meeting comes as public sentiment in Taiwan has turned against closer relations as fears over Beijing's influence grow.

The main opposition China-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) -- tipped to win the presidency in January -- heavily criticised the meeting, saying Ma was trying to influence the outcome of the elections.

Around 50 protesters gathered outside the parliament building, with police also stepping up their presence.

Caption : Xi and Ma