TAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Monday voiced optimism about this week's historic talks with China, as the self-ruled island's negotiators headed to the mainland.
"I'm very hopeful about the upcoming negotiations," Ma said ahead of the scheduled start on Wednesday of four days of talks between the rivals in the Chinese capital Beijing -- the first direct dialogue in more than a decade.
"I want to remind you that we're making history, which will have a far-reaching influence on Taiwan," Ma said during a meeting with Taiwan's top negotiator Chiang Pin-kun and other members of the delegation.
The Beijing talks have come about thanks to a dramatic rapprochement between the long-time rivals in recent months, made possible in part by the landslide election in March of Ma, who has promised to be more China-friendly.
Establishing permanent direct flights between China and Taiwan and allowing more mainland Chinese tourists to visit the island will be the main topics on the agenda.
China and Taiwan held a landmark dialogue in 1993 in Singapore but the Chinese side suspended the process in 1995.
The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and China still claims Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification. It has in the past threatened to invade if Taiwan declares independence.
Those threats were ramped up during the eight-year reign of Ma's predecessor Chen Shui-bian, whose pro-independence rhetoric angered the mainland.
The first group of Taiwanese delegates flew to China on Monday to prepare for the talks.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Chen's party, warned Ma against making any hasty agreements with Beijing "to the detriment of Taiwan's interest" -- a concern quickly rejected by Ma's ruling Kuomintang party.
The DPP has repeatedly warned that Ma could sell out Taiwan to Beijing in any talks with China.
Taiwanese authorities are expected to strike a deal with China to launch weekend charter flights, and officials expect up to 3,000 Chinese tourists will be allowed to visit the island daily.
The move is a big step for Taiwan, which banned direct trade and transport exchanges with the mainland after the 1949 split. It has severely restricted visits to the island ever since.
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