meeting face-to-face. And while the talks aren't expected to yield much in the way of

progress, the fact that they're even taking place is pretty remarkable.

The rival governments have had no official contact until now. Instead all dialogue has

been carried out by proxies. (Via YouTube / ChinaWelcomeU)

Their relationship is complicated — China's Communist party considers Taiwan a rebel region

that should be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. (Via Google Maps)

The animosity dates back to China's civil war in 1949. When the country's nationalists

lost to Mao Zedong's communists, Chiang Kai-Shek and his two million nationalists

supporters fled to Taiwan. (Via University of Southern California)

From then on, the two were governed separately, with both claiming to be the true government

of China — Taiwain referring to itself as the Republic of China.

But in 1971, the United Nations recognized mainland China as the "rightful holders" of

China's U.N. seat, and Taiwan grew more isolated internationally. (Via United Nations)

But starting with the election of Taiwan's Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou in

2008, relations between Taiwan and China started to improve. (Via Wikimedia Commons / jamiweb)

He paved the way for increased tourism and direct flights between Taiwan and China. (Via

NTD-TV)

These talks aren't totally out of the blue — years of behind-the-scenes work went in

to getting Chinese and Taiwanese leaders at the negotiating table. (Via Euronews)

Each side wants different things. As one China analyst told Al Jazeera the purpose, from

the Taiwanese perspective, is by "no means" reunification.

"There is no mileage for that in Taiwan. Most of the Taiwanese people want status quo."

As for China, analysts speculate, it will push for a free trade agreement it approved

six months ago that remains stalled in Taiwan's parliament.

The BBC's Martin Patience explains: "China perhaps sees these talks as a useful opportunity

to forge closer ties with Taiwan while a relatively pro-Beijing president remains in power on

the island."

One issue the two are likely to disagree on — press freedom. China reportedly would

not allow several journalists from Taiwanese and Western-backed news outlets to attend

the meeting.