Did Ma Ying-jeou stand up for Taiwan in closed-door summit with Xi Jinping? Full transcript of Ma's remarks has the answers
Transcript of leader's remarks during meeting reveals he did convey the people's views to Beijing, but critics say he should have been firmer
Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou went to lengths to persuade Beijing to remove missiles pointed at the island during his closed-door summit with President Xi Jinping on Saturday.
"I'd like to address to Mr Xi that the [Taiwanese] opposition often refers to a recent drill at Zhurihe base and the problem of missiles to criticise cross-strait ties," Ma said, according to a transcript of his remarks in the talks, released by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Office on Monday.
"If your side could make some friendly moves, it could dismiss such unnecessary criticism."
Footage by mainland state broadcaster CCTV in July showed a drill at the People's Liberation Army's Zhurihe base featuring a complex similar to Taipei's presidential residence, fuelling talk in Taiwan about Beijing's hostility. A report on the PLA by Taiwan's Ministry of Defence in August said Beijing now had 1,500 short-range missiles deployed against the island.
Read more: Full coverage of Xi-Ma summit in Singapore
After Ma raised the missiles issue, Xi "replied that such deployments were … not directed at the Taiwanese people".
During the meeting, Ma urged Beijing to give Taiwan more international space. He also referred to "the Republic of China", a term that risked raising Beijing's ire. "One China, one Taiwan; or the independence of Taiwan, is not permitted by the constitution of the ROC," he said.
