TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's president has signalled that he will continue the China policy that helped him get re-elected as he begins his second four-year term.
Speaking at a low-key inaugural ceremony Sunday, Ma Ying-jeou hewed to the same formula for China relations he championed during his first term — "no unification, no independence and no use of force."
That policy has substantially reduced tensions between the sides, while offering Beijing little early hope of realizing its long term goal of unification.
Ma's comments Sunday are likely to disappoint hard-liners in Beijing, intent on bringing democratic Taiwan under their rule as soon as possible.
The two sides split amid civil war in 1949, and China continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory.
