Experts also point out that it will be a challenge for Taiwan’s leadership to convince the rest of its citizens the possibility of cooperation with China. (Photo : www.chinafeatures.com)
At the conclusion of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Republic of China President Ma Ying-jeou, experts and observers debate on the implications of the landmark discussion, according to a report by China Daily.
"The meeting itself was a big achievement. It will lay a solid foundation for the future peaceful development of cross-straits relations," said Ei Sun Oh, a senior researcher at Singapore Nanyang Technological University. "We expect second and third steps of a similar nature in the future."
For Li Jiauan, a senior Taiwan affairs expert and former director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China and Taiwan's historic meeting will have a significant influence on the political atmosphere of Taiwan, as it grapples with anti-China supporters.
"The meeting between Xi and Ma will have a huge influence on changing the political atmosphere in Taiwan and will play an important role in stabilizing cross-Straits peaceful development," said Li in an inteview with China Daily.
On one hand, Beijing is attempting to emphasize the benefits of interdependence between both sides, but skeptics warn that no specific issues were addressed explicitly, and as such, it is difficult to accurately assess the impact of the meeting.
"It's historic, because it's the first, but I would not go as far as to say that it was very important, because it engaged in generalities. No specific issues were addressed, no promises were made that we know of," said J. Michael Cole, a fellow at the University of Nottingham's China Policy Institute.
Experts also point out that it will be a challenge for Taiwan's leadership to convince the rest of its citizens the possibility of cooperation with China.
The development comes after President Xi's successful visit to the United Kingdom, which secured major business deals and signalled deeper economic ties between the two countries.
