China's Xi meets with Taiwan's former president Ma in Beijing

In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping and former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou met in Singapore and expressed optimism about the potential for improved relations between China and Taiwan, which could lead to lasting peace and an end to decades of hostility. However, during their latest meeting on Wednesday, in Beijing, the prospects for a peaceful resolution over Taiwan's future appeared less promising. Ma Ying-jeou, who served as Taiwan's leader from 2008 to 2016 and is currently on an eleven-day tour of China, met with Xi Jinping at the latter's residence in Beijing. This marks a rare occurrence of current or former leaders from both sides meeting in Beijing. Ma expressed that a war between China and Taiwan would be "an unbearable burden" for the Chinese nation and acknowledged that external interference cannot prevent the historical trend of reunification.