Chinese official stays silent about former leader's son marriage to Taiwan citizen

The Chinese government kept quiet bout a marriage that links two sides of Taiwan strait. At wednesdayʼs press briefing Chen Binhua (Taiwan Affairs Office speaker) didnt want to discuss Bo Guaguaʼs recent marriage to a taiwanese citizen: he just mentioned being against “malicious“ talks on this topic

The story brings back memories of Bo Xilai - a high-ranking politician who fell from grace about 11 years ago. Both his parents are in chinese prisons: father got life sentence for power abuse and taking bribes while mother was found guilty of killing british businessman Neil Heywood (which shocked many people at that time)

Last week taiwans government confirmed that Bo Guagua visited their island after getting married to one of its citizens. The Harvard-Oxford educated son has stayed away from mainland China since his parents troubles began; keeping low-profile and living somewhere abroad. Its not clear if he ever went back to visit China or who exactly his new spouse is

The whole situation is extra-sensitive because of two things: the taboo around discussing the Bo family case and chinaʼs claims over taiwan. The island has its own democratic rule but mainland sees it as their territory - something that taiwan strongly disagrees with. The marriage news came at a time when cross-strait relations are not at their best