TIMELINE - Milestones in China-Taiwan relations since 1949

(Reuters) - China and Taiwan began talking for the first time in almost a decade on Thursday, though the two often bitter diplomatic rivals are focusing on just a few practical issues and avoiding sensitive political problems.

Relations between Beijing and the self-ruled island it views as a renegade province have see-sawed between aggression, attempts at rapprochement and snubs for almost six decades.

Here is a chronology showing some milestones in relations:

* 1949: Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists lose civil war to Mao Zedong's Communist forces, sets up government-in-exile on Taiwan.

* 1958: China bombards offshore islands held by Nationalist troops, nearly sparking war between China and the United States.

* 1971: Taiwan loses U.N. seat held since 1946 as the Republic of China, to the People's Republic of China. Its diplomatic allies dwindle to 23 by 2008 as most countries in the world switch recognition to China.

* 1987: After decades of hostility, Taiwan and China embark on cautious rapprochement, allowing cross-Strait family visits.

* 1991: Taiwan renounces use of force to retake mainland, paving way for unofficial talks.

* 1993: Landmark bilateral meeting in Singapore.