Taiwan's security concerns fall on deaf Chinese ears

KINMEN, Taiwan - A senior Taiwanese official on Saturday told his Chinese counterpart that Beijing should respond to the island's concerns over a new security threat China seems to have posed.

The appeal was ignored.

The incident reflects ongoing political tensions between the two sides, even though relations have thawed and even warmed since Taiwan's mainland-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008.

China has never abandoned the possible use of force as an option to achieve reunification with the island of 23 million. Taiwan split off from China in 1949 amid civil war.

The meeting, which took place on this Taiwanese islet near the mainland city of Xiamen, reflected Beijing's unwillingness to make any concessions on its claim on Taiwan.

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