World | Taiwan Historic Talks Bring China, Taiwan Closer Than Ever First high-level talks since 1949 yield trade agreements amid opposition protests By Rob Quinn Posted Nov 4, 2008 8:53 AM CST Copied China's top negotiator with Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, offers water to his Taiwan counterpart Chiang Ping-kung, unseen, at a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, today. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) The first high-level talks between China and Taiwan in 60 years have set aside politics in favor of building trade ties, Reuters reports. Negotiations in Taipei sidestepped the sovereignty question and yielded 13 agreements to triple the number of cross-strait flights, allow direct cargo shipments, improve food safety, and normalize financial relations between the once-hostile neighbors. Cross-strait ties have thawed rapidly since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou was elected this year, but pro-independence groups worry things are moving too fast. The arrival of China's envoy—the highest ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since the Communists sent their defeated rivals fleeing over the strait in 1949—was marked by thousands of protesters accusing Ma of selling out the island. Read These Next President asks nation's top generals to loosen up. Defense officials react to Hegseth's Quantico meeting. Government shutdown is here. Here's what to expect. Federal judge rips into Trump himself in deportation ruling. Report an error