China summit 'first step' to normalising ties

"The summit is not for the next election, it is for the welfare of the next generation," said Ma.

"I feel it is my duty to build a bridge for the two sides."

Ma said key ally the United States had been notified of the meeting in advance, but had played no role in arranging it.

- Why now? -

The US, which is committed to defending the island -- its former cold war outpost -- against any Chinese aggression, has given a cautious welcome to the summit which will see the leaders speak publicly and behind closed doors before having dinner.

While observers agree the meeting is a landmark moment, there are questions over why Beijing has agreed to do it now, having resisted Ma's previous attempts to organise a face-to-face.

As well as being a public show of support for the KMT ahead of the elections, it is seen by some as a move towards solidarity with a US ally at a time of simmering tension between Beijing and Washington.

Beijing's anger flared after the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen last week sailed close to artificial islands it has built in the disputed South China Sea, construction that has alarmed China's neighbours.

Ma came to power in 2008 promising prosperity through better ties with Beijing. 

But many voters feel trade deals have benefited big business, not ordinary people, and observers say the KMT risks a backlash over the summit at the presidential elections.

Tsai Ing-wen of the Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party -- widely tipped to win the presidency -- said the meeting would "hurt Taiwan's democratic politics".

"The people will not allow him (Ma) to limit Taiwan's future purely for his own political credit," she said.

Ma confirmed there would be no agreement or joint statement between the two sides, a move analysts say is designed to assuage the nerves of the Taiwanese public.

The leaders will give individual press conferences after the meeting.

To avoid the risk of a protocol problem over the title "president", they will not use their official titles, instead addressing each other as "Mister".

Source: AFP