China official met by protests, says respects Taiwan's choices

Zhang Zhijun (L), director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, shakes hand with Kaohsiung City mayor Chen Chu of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, June 27, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

KAOHSIUNG Taiwan (Reuters) - China's top official in charge of relations with self-ruled Taiwan said on Friday that he understood and respected the choices of its people, as he was met by noisy protests in the traditionally anti-China far south of the island.

Zhang Zhijun, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, is making the first trip by the head of the body to Taiwan, a visit marked by a highly unusual meeting with an opposition party stalwart and mayor of the pro-independence southern port of Kaohsiung, Chen Chu.