China officials make rare visit to Taiwan

A group of officials from Shanghai arrived in Taiwan yesterday for the first visit to the island by Chinese politicians since 2020.

"China get out," shouted some demonstrators outside Taipei's airport in protest against Beijing's claim that self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory.

The six-member delegation, led by Li Xiaodong, deputy head in charge of Taiwan affairs in Shanghai, did not comment to the media upon arrival at the airport.

Beijing has ramped up military, democratic and economic pressure on Taiwan under President Xi Jinping, who has said "reunification" with Taiwan must not be passed on to future generations.

Tensions reached their most intense in decades after Beijing staged massive military drills around Taiwan in August to protest against a visit to Taipei by then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi.