Los Angelese Times
Date: May 24, 2015
By Ralph Jennings

Negotiators from Taiwan and China met Saturday in an effort to maintain momentum

Anti-unification protesters clash with police as Chinese negotiators hold talks in the Golden Lake Hotel on Kinmen Island on Saturday. (STR / EPA)

for better relations that have resulted in economic gains.

The ministers, appearing keen to sustain seven years of closer ties, discussed privately topics such as tourism and the dredging of sand in their shared ocean strait, officials said.

But there were no signs that they touched directly on sensitive issues concerning Taiwan’s 2016 presidential election. Taiwan’s chief opposition Democratic Progressive Party, whose nominee leads in early public opinion polls, advocates a more cautious approach to China, including no new dialogue without greater respect for the island’s self-rule.     [FULL  STORY]