Reuters
Date: Apr 8, 2015
By RALPH JENNINGS Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s president said Wednesday that relations with political rival China

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou

were moving forward despite widespread public opposition that crested with an occupation of parliament last year, and that he hopes to cooperate with Beijing on regional economic development.

When President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, his government accelerated efforts to ease icy relations with China by avoiding politics to instead discuss trade, investment and transportation links.

But Ma’s engagement with China hit its strongest wave of resistance at home last year when tens of thousands of protesters occupied parliament and surrounding streets in Taipei to demand more oversight of relations with Beijing or a cancellation of any future agreements.     [FULL  STORY]