Three Links
and Cross-Strait Contacts
"One Country on Each
Side" Statement
[PRC Policy] [Taiwan Policy] [News] [Papers]
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2001 ; 2002 ; 2003
China Condemns Taiwan's
Political 'Holy War'
(Reuters, Dec. 31, 2003) China condemned Taiwan President
Chen Shui-bian for waging a ''holy war'' against the mainland.
President Hu Invites Taiwan
Businessmen for Discussion
(Taiwan News, Dec. 26, 2003) Amid simmering
tensions across the strait, China's president Hu Jiantao made the unusual
gesture of receiving leaders from Taiwanese chambers of commerce.
Beijing Rolls Out Red Carpet
for Taiwan Investors
(Reuters, Dec. 25, 2003) China gave red-carpet
treatment to Taiwan business leaders despite simmering tensions between the
governments.
China Arrests 43 Alleged
Spies
(WP, Dec. 25, 2003) China stepped up its campaign
to undermine President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan by announcing the arrest of
24 people from the island and 19 Chinese citizens on charges of espionage.
Taipei Rejects Chinese Spy
Ring Report as Political Attack
(Financial Times, Dec. 24, 2003) Taipei rejected
of the crushing of a Taiwanese spy ring in China as a politically motivated
attack on the reputation of Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan president.
China Arrests 24 Taiwan
'Spies' as Tension Simmers
(Reuters, Dec. 24, 2003) China has arrested 24
''spies'' from diplomatic foe Taiwan and 19 mainland Chinese accomplices amid
simmering tensions over plans by the island for a referendum.
China Moots Taiwan Free
Trade Deal
(Financial Times, Nov 25, 2003) China would be
interested in signing a free trade agreement with Taiwan if the island
eliminated restrictions on commercial ties, according to a Chinese trade
official.
Taiwan Will Not Sign Pact
with China, MAC States
(Taipei Times, Nov. 14, 2003) The Mainland
Affairs Council said Taiwan would not consider signing a Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with China such as China signed with Hong Kong
and Macau earlier this year.
China OKs Bank Offices in
Taiwan
(AP, Nov. 5, 2003) China's central bank has
approved four domestic commercial banks to set up representative offices in
Taiwan, state-run media reported.
Taiwan-China Trade Rises 22
Percent
(AP, Oct. 29, 2003) Trade between Taiwan and
China totaled US$28.6 billion (NT$972 billion) in the first eight months of
this year -- a 22 percent increase from the same period last year.
Taiwan Passes Key Law on
China Relations
(Financial Times, Oct. 10, 2003) Taiwan's
legislature passed a key law governing cross-strait economic, social and
cultural relations. Separately, financial, investment, educational and people
exchanges are no longer banned in principle.
Switzerland Deals Taiwanese
Seeking Residency a Blow
(Taipei Times, Oct. 9, 2003) Switzerland began
replacing "Taiwan" with "Chinese Taipei" in the nationality
columns of residence permits issued to Taiwan citizens, a move believed to be
done under pressure from China.
Party Showdown over
Cross-Strait Legislation Looms
(Taiwan News, Sep. 21, 20030 With disputing
parties refusing to budge, a showdown now appears inevitable as the deadline
for the Legislature to consider the proposal to revamp rules on civilian
exchanges between Taiwan and China draws closer.
Mainlanders in Taiwan Rally
Against Immigration Law
(AP, Sep. 21, 2003) Hundreds of mainland Chinese
women married to Taiwanese men took to the streets here yesterday to protest
against a proposed change in a law that they say is unfair.
Abducted Coast Guard Returns
after Mainland Abduction
(China Post, Sep. 16, 2003) A coast guard
returned unharmed to Taiwan a day after he was abducted to the mainland by
Chinese fishermen resisting an inspection off the Matsu islands.
China Official Proposes
Cross-Strait, Free Trade Pact
(Dow Jones, July 20, 2003) China and Taiwan should negotiate a free trade pact
to boost cross-strait economic ties, state media reported Saturday citing a
senior official.
China Repeats Taiwan Troops
Pledge
(Reuters, July 18, 2003) China, worried that the crisis of confidence in Hong
Kong may discourage Taiwan from returning to the fold, has repeated a
longstanding pledge not to send a single soldier to the island after the two
sides reunify.
MAC Asks Beijing to Drop
Harsh Stance
(China Post, July 6, 2003) A resumption of cross-strait talks hinges on
Beijing dropping its domineering attitude towards Taipei.
Cross-Strait Talks Unlikely
Before 2004, Says Chen
(Taiwan News, July 5, 2003) China's unfriendly gestures towards Taiwan during
the SARS outbreak have dimmed the prospects for a thaw in cross-strait ties
before the 2004 presidential election, President Chen said.
Taiwan Policy: Hu Lists 3
Tasks By Ching Cheong
(Straits Times, June 19, 2003) 1. Neutralise US influence and involvement; 2.
Improve cross-strait exchanges; 3. Prepare military for emergencies.
Beijing's New Leader Takes
Over Key Post
(Financial Times, June 18, 2003) China's president, Hu Jintao, has assumed
executive control over Beijing's relations with its arch-rival Taiwan Official sources said
Mr Hu took over from Mr Jiang in recent weeks as head of the Communist
party's leading group on Taiwan affairs.
Cross-Straits Freight
Charters Proposed
(China Daily, May 29, 2003) Beijing agreed to consider a proposed plan to
operate freight charter flights across the Taiwan Straits in a bid to help
Taiwanese investors reduce the economic damage caused by SARS.
SEF Urges Resumption of
Cross-Strait Talks
(Taiwan News, Apr. 30, 2003) Taiwan's top envoy for talks with China urged
the resumption of dialogue between the two sides in a bid to keep alive the
era of cross-strait reconciliation that was ushered in by the historical
Singapore meeting 10 years ago.
Nature of Taiwan Issue is
China's Sovereignty: Hu
(People’s Daily, Apr. 22, 2003) The nature of the Taiwan issue is the
sovereignty of China -- a question of China's reunification or separation,
Chinese President Hu Jintao said.
China Suggests U.S. Congress
Temper Message
(AFP, Apr. 22, 2003) Chinese President Hu Jintao urged members of the United
States Congress to play a "constructive role" in Beijing's efforts
to peacefully reunify Taiwan.
Lien Plans Victory Visit to
Beijing
(China Post, Mar. 31, 2003) Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan, apparently
confident that he would win the 2004 presidential election, promised a
national party congress he would visit Beijing next March.
United Front Sought on
China's Investment Pull
(CNA, Mar. 29, 2003) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian called on all
countries in the Asia-Pacific area jointly to hammer out an effective
strategy to cope with mainland China's growing "magnetic effect" in
luring foreign investment.
New Chinese Leaders Stay
with Old Policies Towards Taiwan
(AP, Mar. 27, 2003) China's new leaders plan to stick to the ruling Communist
Party's policies towards Taiwan, pressing for opening direct shipping and air
links, a government spokesman said.
New Mainland Premier Quotes
Sad Poem About Taiwan
(AP, Mar. 19, 2003) Mainland China's new premier quoted a sad poem about
national division Tuesday as he promised that Beijing would seek expanded
cultural and economic exchanges with Taiwan.
China's Pressure Forces Chen
to Cancel Europe Trip
(Taipei Times, Mar. 17, 2003) President Chen Shui-bian has had to shelve a
visit to Europe to address the European Parliament next week after China
slammed the trip.
Party Chief Hu Jintao on
Taiwan Issue
(People’s Daily, Mar. 12, 2003) Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, reiterated the stand of unswervingly
adhering to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification, one
country, two systems."
Zhu: Much Work Done for
`Peaceful Reunification of Motherland'
(AP, Mar. 5, 2003) Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said his government has done
"a great deal of work" for peaceful mainland-Taiwan reunification
in past five years.
Beijing Plans No Change in
Taiwan Policy
(AP, Mar. 4, 2003) China's new governmental leadership plans no changes in
its approach to Taiwan and will maintain a policy of ``continuity,'' a
spokesman for the mainland's legislature said.
TSMC Gets Nod to Prepare for
China Wafer Fab
(Taiwan News, Feb. 27, 2003) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the
world's No. 1 contract chipmaker, got the go-ahead from the government to
prepare to proceed with the construction of its first eight-inch wafer plant
in China.
Taiwan's Investment Ratio
Slumps to 40-year Low
(AP, Feb. 24, 2003) Taiwan's investment ratio hit a 40-year low last year
while the island's China-bound investments continued to pick up at a fast
pace.
President Chen Promises No
Abrupt Twists in Cross-Strait Ties
(CNA, Feb. 19, 2003) President Chen Shui-bian said there will be no abrupt
twists or turns in relations across the Taiwan Strait during the remainder of
his current four-year presidential term.
Taiwan Moving Toward
Dropping Ban on Trading China's Currency
(AP, Feb. 11, 2003) The government expects lawmakers to soon pass a bill
allowing rival China's currency to be brought to Taiwan and traded on the
island, an official said.
SE China Port City Opens
Direct Newspaper Link with Taiwan
(People’s Daily, Feb. 6, 2003) Southeast China's port city of Xiamen opened
an express route for newspapers from Taiwan, allowing readers in the city
same-day access to newspapers published in Taiwan.
Unite with China by 2005?
Impossible, says Taiwan
(Straits Times, Jan. 24, 2003) Politicians reject the prediction of
management guru Ohmae that Taiwan will likely join a Chinese federation
No Major Breakthroughs: Chen
(China Post, Jan. 21, 2003) President Chen Shui-bian said that he is not
expecting any major breakthroughs in cross-strait ties in the foreseeable
future.
DPP Official Visits Beijing
(Taipei Times, Jan. 21, 2003) The DPP's top official in charge of China
policy visited Beijing -- a trip widely seen as a breakthrough in relations.
President Chen Vows Taiwan
Won’t Become ‘Second Hong Kong’
(China Post, Jan. 19, 2003) President Chen Shui-bian vowed that the 23
million people of Taiwan will not accept the so-called “one country, two
systems” formula. He added that it is totally impossible for the ROC to
accept the concept of a “Chinese federation.”
MAC Chairwoman Questions
Loyalty of Private Groups
(Taipei Times, Jan. 12, 2003) A top cross-strait policy planner blamed
"certain people" for cooperating with Chinese authorities, a move
which she said has hamstrung the government on cross-strait issues.
China Welcomes Taiwan
President's Remarks
(AP, Jan. 4, 2003) China welcomed recent conciliatory remarks by Taiwan's president
and said that the new year offered the chance for a "substantial
improvement" in relations between the two rivals.
Exchanges with Taiwan
Increased in 2002
(China Daily, Jan. 2, 2003) Over 2.77 million visits by Taiwanese to the
mainland have been recorded in the first 11 months of 2002, an increase of
4.5 per cent over the same period of the previous year.
Chen Renews Call for
Rapprochement, Direct Links with China
(AFP, Jan. 1, 2003)Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian renewed his call for
rapprochement and direct transport links with China. Chen said he would not
take any provocative measures that could alter Taiwan's situation.
China's Jiang Pushes
Peaceful Reunion with Taiwan
(Reuters, Jan. 1, 2003) Chinese President Jiang Zemin bid farewell to 2002 by
renewing a call for peaceful reunification with rival Taiwan and cheering the
success of a pivotal leadership transition on the Communist mainland.
Why China Must Honor 'Five
Noes'
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Dec. 28, 2003)
President Chen Shui-bian recently indicated that as China continues to deploy
missiles targeting Taiwan and to expand its military, the conditions under
which the "five noes" were formulated have long ceased to exist.
The Answer Is Dialogue, Not
the US By Nat
Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Dec. 2, 2003) Pressing for direct dialogue between Taiwan and
China and avoiding the continuous verbal jujitsu seems the most practical
road to follow.
China Offers Taiwan No
Incentive
(Editorial, Taipei Times, Nov. 25, 2003) Chinese
leaders don't understand what Taiwanese people want. It's China that is
pushing Taiwan toward independence.
China to Get Tough over
Taiwan By Willy Lam
(CNN.com, Nov. 11, 2003) Wen Jiabao is expected to issue a tough warning to
Taiwan during his visit to the United States early next month. The Chinese
leader will also admonish his hosts to take a more clear-cut line on opposing
Taiwan independence.
Cross-Strait Crime Fight
Hindered by Politicking By Yang
Yung-nane (Taipei Times, Nov. 1, 2003) The recent
kidnapping of a China-based Taiwanese businessman in Dongguan, provides
another example of how Chinese and Taiwanese criminals work together to
commit crime across the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan and China Play Tug of
War
(Financial Times; Oct. 7, 2003) A growing number of
Taiwanese with mainland businesses being courted by both the Taipei and
Chinese capital markets.
Taiwan Says It Still Has
Upper Hand over China
(Reuters, Sep. 16, 2003) Taiwan still holds the
upper hand against China in trade competition but will open direct links with
the mainland only in stages because of security and economic risks, the
island's top policymaker on China said.
Taiwanese Banks Seek Way to
China By Kathrin Hille
(Financial Times, Sept. 15, 2003) Slowly and
reluctantly, Taipei's political concerns about its overweening neighbour on
the mainland are giving way to the dynamics of economic integration, washing
away bans on links with the mainland that have been in place for more than 50
years.
China Won't Be Taiwan's
Electioneering Tool Again By Leslie
Fong
(Straits Times, Sep. 13, 2003) From all indications, China is following that
advice in dealing with a Taiwan that seems bent on picking a public quarrel
in the run-up to its presidential election next March.
Taiwan Keeps Its Distance
From China By Tyler
Marshall
(LA Times, Sep. 8, 2003) A new public wariness about closer ties with
mainland China has cooled the desire to immediately open direct links across
the Taiwan Strait and boosted President Chen Shui-bian's bid to win a second
four-year term next year.
Illegal Chinese Immigrants
Irk Taiwan
(Associated Press, Sep. 6, 2003) The latest
Taiwan-China feud seems far away from the Hsinchu Refugee Camp for mainland
Chinese in this northern city. For more than a year, this has been Luo's
home.
Lilley Urges Nation to Make
Business, Not War with China
(Taipei Times, July 28, 2003) The former US ambassador to China said that
Taiwan could play a major role in the future of East Asia if it stays clear
of conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
HP Taiwan CEO Urges
Separation of Economic, Political Issues
(Central News Agency, July 22, 2003) Taiwan should keep politics out of
economic issues if it wants to thrive on the vast Chinese market and develop
a higher profile in the international community.
Is It Possible a
Cross-Strait FTA Deal Is In the Making?
(Editorial, China Post, July 21, 2003) Beijing once again wants to open a new
category of negotiations while it remains disinterested in resuming talks
that have already been started.
Taiwan Separatists Undermine
Cross-Straits Ties: Expert
(People's Daily, July 18, 2003) "There are increasing dangers that
separatist forces on the island are plotting to increase tensions in
bilateral relations through a series of pro-independence moves,'' said Tang
Shubei.
Taiwan, Mainland Compete for
Global Investors By James
Chang
(Asia Times, July 15, 2003) Longtime rivals Taiwan and mainland China are now
engaged in a different kind of competition: a financial rat race aimed at
wooing international portfolio investors into their booming stock markets.
Economics of a Chinese
Federation By Kao
Charng
(Taipei Times, Apr 15, 2003) Kenichi Ohmae believes that regardless of the
possibility of a future Chinese collapse, these six major Chinese economic
regions will continue their rapid growth and form a Chinese federation
similar to the current US system.
Pundits Call on Taiwan to
Seek Solutions from Within
(Taiwan News, Apr. 3, 2003) Taiwan should look to itself for a solution to
cope with the buildup of China's economic strength, two famous economics
critics said despite their divergent perspectives on China's future.
Signs of a Thaw in
Cross-Strait Relations By Frank
Ching
(Japan Times, Mar. 4, 2003) In a potentially significant move, China is
reported to have pulled back some of its missiles along the Fujian coast facing
Taiwan, something that the United States and Taiwan have been urging China to
do for some time.
Taiwan Investments in China
at New High By Lawrence
Chung
(Straits Times, Mar. 1, 2003) Hardcore pro-independence politicians are
losing their battle to stop the government from easing restrictions on
business and transport links with China.
Senior Economist Advises
Swift Creation of 'Three Direct Links'
(China Post, Feb. 24, 2003) The government should move swiftly to set up the
"three direct links" between Taiwan and mainland China as a measure
to attract foreign investors, in lieu of a mainland magnet effect which will
pull foreign investment away from Taiwan.
Cross-Strait Relations:
Past, Present, Future By C. J.
Chen
(Foreign Policy Research Institute, Feb. 21, 2003) Both now and for
the foreseeable future, cross-strait relations directly affect not
only Taiwan but also U.S. interests in the Western Pacific and peace and
security
in the entire region.
Idling Toward Continued
Cross-Strait Stalemate By Tung
Chen-yuan
(Taipei Times, Feb. 14, 2003) Cross-strait relations are likely to remain
stable -- if stalemated -- over the next few years. Direct links will remain
the focus of cross-strait exchanges and negotiations in the short term and
the medium term
Taiwan Seeks Economic Ties
with China, as well as Independence
(Agence France Presse, Feb. 10, 2003) Taiwan's relationship with China has
become increasingly ambiguous, with its desire for independence at odds with
the drive for greater economic integration.
China's Economy Nothing for
Taiwan To Be Afraid Of By Tu
Jenn-Hwa and Wang Chia-Wei
(Taipei Times, Feb. 01, 2003) If investment in and exports to China increase
because of profit considerations, the efficiency of Taiwan's resources, as
well as the production and economic growth rates, will increase.
A Chinese Federation is
Highly Unlikely By Chen
Chi-Mai
(Taipei Times, Jan. 24, 2003) Political integration between Taiwan and China
must be based on the principle of equal sovereignty. That being so, the final
decision on Taiwan's status rests solely with the nation's 23 million people.
Politics Still Trumps
Business in China-Taiwan Relations By Frank Ching
(Japan Times, Jan. 22, 2003) Thus both China and Taiwan
have put politics ahead of economics. If neither side budges, it is unlikely
that the "three links" will be realized anytime soon.
Altering Cross-Strait Ties Needs
People's Approval, Says Chen
(Taiwan News, Jan. 21, 2003) The ball is in Taiwan's court, on the issue of
deciding the country's future and on any possible change in cross-strait
relations, as both require the approval of the 23 million people of Taiwan,
President Chen Shui-bian said.
Pragmatic Policy of Mainland
Needs Reciprocation by Taiwan
(People's Daily, Jan. 20, 2003) Despite the
unrealistic political illusion of the Taiwan authorities, the form and nature
of cross-Straits interaction have gradually been changed by the forces of
public opinion and market rules.
China-Taiwan Ties: When
There's No Will... By Raymond R. Wu
(Straits Times, Jan. 8, 2003) The seemingly
conciliatory remarks by Jiang Zemin and Chen Shui-bian on New Year's Day gave
signs of a possible rapprochement between the two untrusting neighbours.
Taiwan Authorities Urged To
Be Sincere in Cross-Strait Relations
(Xinhuanet, Jan. 7, 2003) Cross-strait ties
will improve substantially if Taiwan authorities are sincere about opening
direct transport links and resume dialogue and consultations on the basis of
the "1992 Consensus".
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