Reaching out to China

The week's news at a glance.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian called this week for peace talks with China “to reduce tension and military threats across the Taiwan Strait.” The overture was a surprise, because Chen has long been an outspoken advocate of more independence for Taiwan. China, which considers the island a renegade province, has said that any move toward formal statehood for Taiwan would trigger a war. But now that Chinese President Hu Jintao has formally consolidated power, ending a two-year transition from the rule of Jiang Zemin, improved relations with Taiwan could be in the offing. China is not expected to respond to the peace talks offer, though, until after Taiwan’s December elections.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up