On October 16, a spokeswoman from the Chinese mainland announced that both sides of the Taiwan Straits can arrange meetings between their leaders independently, rather than depending on other international events.

"A cross-Straits leaders' meeting is an affair between Chinese people on the both sides of the Straits. It will not necessarily be on the sidelines of an international meeting," said Fan Liqing, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Fan was responding to a question about whether Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou should attend the informal economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation next year in Beijing so as to facilitate a meeting between leaders across the Straits.