It is a mark of how the relationship between Taiwan and China has strengthened over the past few years that even the former head of Taiwan’s opposition party – which historically has been hostile to the mainland and in favour of Taiwanese independence – recently visited Beijing to meet officials and academics.

Since Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008, Taiwan’s relationship with China has warmed significantly. The two have signed nearly 20 trade and investment pacts, started direct flights between Taiwan and the mainland and made Taipei the first market outside Hong Kong able to clear renminbi transactions.

But with those key agreements sealed, the pace of change in the relationship will likely begin to slow, businesspeople and political analysts say.