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China makes rare gesture of friendship towards Taiwan

Signs of warmer relationship that was once thought impossible
China makes rare gesture of friendship towards Taiwan

Picture: Shutterstock

Published: September 26, 2013 05:21 AM GMT
Updated: September 25, 2013 06:33 PM GMT

China is giving Taiwan a rare chance to join a United Nations event this week, showing the strength of a new relationship that was once considered impossible due to decades of hostilities between the two political and military rivals.

China, backed by about 170 diplomatic allies, normally bars Taiwan from any role in international agencies that require statehood of its members. Although China has regarded Taiwan as part of its territory since a civil war in the 1940s, it is softening its tone by allowing Taiwan special guest status at a UN aviation agency’s general assembly in Montreal.

The International Civil Aviation Organization’s special pass to Taiwan follows a positive cue last year from former Chinese president Hu Jintao during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, Taiwan’s foreign ministry says. 

Taiwan wants a bigger UN role as it faces pressure at home to assert itself more internationally following the 1971 loss of its UN seat when the global body recognized China. Since 2009, it has pushed China and other powerful countries to let it participate in the aviation agency as a way of keeping up on air safety and security issues. 

“This was not a very easy relaxation of Beijing’s blockade,” says Alexander Huang, a professor of strategic studies at Tamkang University in Taiwan. “This is long awaited goodwill from China. We pushed very hard both through bilateral channels and third parties.”

The nod from Mr. Hu followed nearly five years of talks on trade and investment that have built an unprecedented trust between China and Taiwan. China had threatened to use force against the island just 100 miles away as recently as 2005 and there was virtually no diplomacy until Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008.

Full Story: China opens UN door to old foe Taiwan 

Source:Christian Science Monitor

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