CHINESE President Xi Jinping and his Taiwan counterpart Ma Yingjeou announced yesterday a historic first joint meeting this weekend.

It will be the first bilateral discussion since civil war split Taiwan from China 66 years ago.

The meeting could be the last chance for Mr Xi to press for closer links before January elections for the Taiwanese presidency and legislature.

Mr Ma’s ruling Nationalist Party is lagging in polls that could serve as an unofficial referendum on his rapprochement policies.

The talks in Singapore could also boost the Nationalists’ credentials for driving progress in relations with China and heading off past hostility from Beijing.

But the opposition Democratic Progressive Party criticised Mr Ma for planning the meeting secretly, accusing him of trying to influence elections.

“This once again shows the Ma government tendency to do things in a black box, violate democracy and evade oversight.”