Inside Story

A new era in Taiwan-China relations?

China and Taiwanese leaders will meet for the first time since their countries split in 1949.

For the first time in more than six decades, the leaders of China and Taiwan will meet this weekend.

This coincides with rising anti-China sentiment in Taiwan ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in January.

Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949, after the communist revolution in China, which forced Chinese nationalists to retreat across the Taiwan Strait.

Relations have been tense ever since, with the Chinese government threatening military force if Taiwan ever tried to gain full independence.

So, could this meeting lead to normalisation of relations between Taiwan and China?

Presenter: Martine Dennis

Guests:
 
Einar Tangen – Political Analyst on China and Economics Affairs Analyst.
 
Jonathan Fenby – China Director at Reserach Service Trusted Sources. 
 
Michael Cole – Specialist in relations between China and Taiwan. Michael is also the Director of International Affairs at Thinking Taiwan Foundation.