Page 9 - atoday
P. 9
WORLD NEWS 9
Wednesday 4 November
Taiwan, Chinese presidents to meet for first time since ‘49
RALPH JENNINGS China’s President Xi Jinping attends a meeting in Beijing, China. overnight and there was no country, two-system form
Associated Press Xi Jinping will meet Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou n Singa- immediate reaction from of joint rule, in which Bei-
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Tai- pore on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, to exchange ideas about rela- the Chinese government jing controls Taiwan but the
wan’s president will meet tions between the two sides but not sign any deals, presidential at that hour, and officials island retains some of its
Saturday with his counter- spokesman Charles Chen said in a statement. in China could not immedi- autonomy and political sys-
part from once icy politi- ately be reached for com- tem — as does Hong Kong.
cal rivalChina, the Taiwan- (Jason Lee/Pool Photo via AP) ment. Ma is stepping down The statement from Ma’s
ese side said, a historic first as president next year after spokesman said the two
culminating nearly eight away. The two sides have to set up lower-level official his maximum two terms. presidents will meet to
years of quickly improved been separately ruled meetings. Since last year, many Tai- “solidify Taiwan-mainland
relations despite wariness since then. China and Taiwan have wanese have criticized the relations and keep the
among many Taiwanese of China insists that the two signed 23 deals covering Ma government for getting status quo across the Tai-
the mainland government. sides eventually reunite, by mainly trade, transit and too close to the mainland. wan Strait,” which refers to
Taiwanese President Ma force if necessary. investment, binding Tai- They fear China will eventu- maintaining today’s fragile
Ying-jeou will meet Chi- The two sides never talked wan closer to its top trad- ally leverage economic re- de facto independence
nese President Xi Jinping formally until Ma, the Na- ing partner and the world’s lations to exert more power for Taiwan while taking
in Singapore to exchange tionalist president since second-largest economy. over the island. no steps to formalize that
ideas about relations be- 2008, lay aside old hostilities The announcement came China is likely to see the independence and en-
tween the two sides but not meeting as a final chance gaging in no aggression
sign any deals, presidential before elections in Taiwan against China.
spokesman Charles Chen to press its case for stronger “To hold a meeting across
said in a statement early ties in case the Nationalists the Taiwan Strait is the con-
Wednesday. lose the Jan. 16 presiden- sistent goal of leaders on
Presidents of the two sides tial poll to an anti-Beijing both sides,” Ma’s spokes-
have not met since Chi- opposition party, as widely man said in the statement.
ang Kai-shek’s Nationalists forecast. “President Ma recently has
lost the Chinese civil war to Xi warned Taiwan in 2013 repeated many times that
Mao Zedong’s Communists against putting off politi- ‘at the right time and on the
in the 1940s, and the Na- cal differences from gen- right occasion and in the
tionalists rebased in Taiwan eration to generation. Last right capacity’ he would
160 kilometers (100 miles) year he suggested a one- not rule out a meeting.”q
Iran Ayatollah: ‘Death to America’ refers to US policies
NASSER KARIMI discussed the slogan while tions since then. gan means death to U.S. He reiterated his warning
Associated Press meeting with Iranian stu- However, current President policies and arrogance.” that the U.S. is not to be
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The dents ahead of the anni- Hassan Rouhani has made The slogan has “strong sup- trusted despite the nucle-
slogan “Death to America” versary of the takeover of efforts to improve relations, port” In Iran, he said. ar deal reached with the
is not aimed at the Ameri- the U.S. Embassy in Tehran including a landmark nu- U.S., Britain, France, Rus-
can people, but rather on Nov. 4, 1979. Militant clear agreement reached Khamenei and hard-liners sia, China and Germany.
American policies, Iran’s students stormed the com- with world powers this past in the Iranian government The agreement promises
supreme leader said in pound and took 52 Ameri- summer. remain deeply suspicious Tehran relief from crippling
comments reported on his cans hostage for 444 days. Khamenei says the “aim of of the United States and economic sanctions in ex-
official website Tuesday. The two countries have the slogan is not death to view its policies a threat to change for curbs on its nu-
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had no diplomatic rela- American people. The slo- the country. clear program.q
