"Xi's Rare Meeting with Former Taiwan President Signals Push for Reunification"

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, stating that outside interference cannot stop the "family reunion" between China and Taiwan. Xi emphasized that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and that there are no issues that cannot be discussed. The meeting comes amid simmering military tension across the strait, with Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council expressing regret that Ma did not publicly convey Taiwan's insistence on defending its sovereignty and democratic system. The meeting reflects ongoing complexities in cross-strait relations, with Taiwan's current president rejecting China's territorial claims and China insisting on the acceptance of "one China" as a precondition for dialogue.