China

The Chinese government has announced it would welcome a dialogue with Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but only on condition that it abandoned its goal of independence for the island. The message from the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office follows the visit of a delegation from Taiwan's opposition Nationalist, or Kuomintang (KMT), party. The visit of the KMT delegation came despite China's decision to pass an anti-secession law, which it was feared would undermine the recent progress the two sides had made towards closer relations, including the first direct flights between Taiwan and China during February's Chinese New Year celebrations.

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