China and Taiwan Shake on It: Six Takeaways From Xi-Ma Meeting

There it was, on stage in Singapore for all the world to see: China’s and Taiwan’s top leaders, shaking hands for the first time. It was a living demonstration of the "one China" principle that has underpinned reconciliation across the Taiwan Strait since 1992.

The concept -- that mainland China and Taiwan are part of the same country, even though they’ve been governed separately for 66 years -- ran through the remarks of both Chinese president Xi Jinping and his Taiwanese counterpart, Ma Ying-jeou, during their meeting Saturday. Ma spoke of the hopes of "the Chinese nation." Xi told Ma that "no power can separate us" and emphasized behind closed doors that such talks must not be considered "state-to-state" affairs.