Cross-Strait Issues

MAC Says PRC Must Open Up to Official Contact to Boost Ties
(Taiwan News, Dec. 31, 2005) If Chinese authorities continue to avoid official contact with the Taiwan government and refuse to deal with Taiwan on a reciprocal basis, "Taiwan not be left with any leeway to be optimistic" about cross-strait affairs, MAC Chairman Joseph Wu said.

Taiwan Needs to Resume Talks with China to Get Initiative: KMT
(Central News Agency, Dec. 28, 2005) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that Taiwan needs to take several steps, including resuming dialogue, in order to gain the initiative in cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

China Says No to Funeral Visit
(Taipei Times, Dec. 26, 2005) China has rejected Taiwan's offer to send an official to China's chief Taiwan negotiator Wang Daohan's funeral, because Beijing is still angry that Taiwan is seeking independence, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

China's Cross-Strait Negotiator Wang Dies at 90
(China Post, Dec. 25, 2005) Wang Daohan, China's top negotiator with Taiwan and one-time Shanghai mayor and mentor to former Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin, died on Saturday in Shanghai, the official Xinhua news agency said. He was 90.

Chinese Defector Says Businessmen Forced into Spying
(Taiwan News, Dec. 18, 2005) China blackmails Taiwanese entrepreneurs by using entrapment, former agent claims. A former Chinese security agent revealed on Thursday that over 2,000 Taiwanese businessmen in China are forced by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on Taiwan.

Citizens Who Register to Reside in China to Lose Their Rights
(China Post, Dec. 10, 2005) Taiwan citizens who register to reside in China or who hold a Chinese passport will automatically lose their Taiwan citizenship, an official said.

Taiwanese 'Still Want Political Status Quo'
(Straits Times, Dec. 8, 2005) Last weekend's electoral victory by the Kuomintang (KMT), which favors cooperation with China, does not mean that more Taiwanese now want reunification with Beijing, party chairman Ma Ying-jeou said.

No China Policy Changes: MAC
(Taipei Times, Dec. 5, 2005) Council Vice Chairman You Ying-lung said Saturday's elections were not a referendum on the government's China strategies but simply local polls.

Taiwanese Leaders Send out Mixed Messages
(Financial Times, Dec. 1, 2005) Chen Shui-bian, the president, threatened to tighten policy on economic exchanges with the mainland should the opposition Kuomintang win the elections.

Cross-Strait Trade Should Consider Political Risk: Taiwan Pres
(CNA, Nov. 29, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said that cross-Taiwan Strait trade relations should not be based only on economic factors but also on non-economic factors, especially political risk.

U.S. Urges Beijing to Talk Directly to Taipei
(China Post, Nov. 23, 2005) The U.S. urged Beijing to talk directly to the government here about setting up direct cross-strait flights and opening up Taiwan to Chinese tourists, saying it was "encouraged" by the progress the two rivals had already made on these issues.

China Official Denied Visa to Attend Forum
(Taiwan News, Nov. 19, 2005) The Mainland Affairs Council announced that a senior mainland Chinese official in charge of relations with Taiwan would not be allowed to enter the country to attend an economic forum sponsored by the opposition Kuomintang in mid-December.

Taiwan-Mainland Trade Continues to Surge
(China Daily, Oct. 31, 2005) Taiwan's two-way trade with the Chinese mainland grew 15 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of this year, surging to US$45.6 billion.

China-based Taiwanese Split over Identity
(Associated Press, Oct. 27, 2005) Interviews with Taiwanese professionals who have come to live in China as a result of thawing relations suggest the gap between the two sides is substantial, going beyond China's one-party rule and Taiwan's democracy.

China to Mark Taiwan Anniversary
(BBC, Oct. 25, 2005) In a break from tradition, China is marking the 60th anniversary of the end of Japanese rule in Taiwan. Senior officials held a ceremony in Beijing.

Taiwan Mulls Allowing Yuan Exchange in Airports, Harbors, Major Cities -Report (AFP, Oct. 24, 2005) The government may allow the Taiwan dollar and Chinese yuan to be exchanged in international airports and harbors on the main island before extending this arrangement to Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.

KMT Group Visits Beijing to Discuss Taiwan-China Tourism Exchanges (CNA, Oct. 21, 2005) China has made necessary preparations for allowing Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan and hopes to start bilateral talks on the issue as soon as possible, a Kuomintang (KMT) official said.

Taiwan's President Warns Opposition on New China Law
(AP, Oct. 14, 2005) Taiwan's president has warned opposition parties against proceeding with legislation that would reduce his power to negotiate with rival China, saying the bill would be tantamount to surrender.

China to Mark Taiwan Return from Japan for 1st Time
(Reuters, Oct. 14, 2005) China, asserting its claim to Taiwan, will for the first time mark the anniversary of the island's return to Chinese rule this month with leaders attending a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

Bush Again Urges Hu to Engage in Dialogue With Taiwan
(CNA, Sep. 16, 2005) A senior U.S. national security official said that President George W. Bush has again urged Chinese President Hu Jintao to engage in more dialogue with Taiwan, including dialogue with the island's duly-elected government.

China Development to Lend $3.7 Bln to Taiwan Firms
(Bloomberg, Sep. 8, 2005) China Development Bank, which provides funds for the nation's largest public works, agreed to offer 30 billion yuan ($3.7 billion) of loans over five years to Taiwan companies.

No Recognition of PRC Academic Qualifications
(China Post, Sep. 5, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian said that Taiwan would never recognize mainland Chinese academic qualifications during his presidency, following China's recent moves to lower tuition costs for Taiwan students and offer them scholarships.

KMT's New Leader Keen to End Split with Mainland
(AP, Sep. 2, 2005) Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou said that he would make efforts to end the 56-year split between the island and mainland China.

Lien Plans Foundation for Peace with China
(China Post, Aug. 29, 2005) Former opposition leader Lien Chan will set up a foundation to promote peace and exchanges with China. Lien will take on the foundation in addition to his chairmanship of a KMT think tank.

China Varsities to Cut Fees for Taiwanese
(Straits Times, Aug. 25, 2005) Starting next month, Taiwanese students enrolled at Chinese universities will have their tuition fees slashed by more than half, paying the same fees as their mainland classmates.

China Has Arrested American on Suspicion of Spying for Taiwan (NYT, Aug. 19, 2005) China has arrested a Chinese-born American businessman on accusations of spying in what appears to be a deepening investigation into the possibility of Taiwanese espionage on the mainland.

KMT, CPC to Launch Grass-Roots Exchange
(China Daily, Aug. 17, 2005) Lien Chan, chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang Party (KMT), announced the formal start of grass-roots exchanges between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the KMT in Taiwan.

SEF Gets NT$100 mil. to Expand Operations
(China Post, Aug. 12, 2005) The government has awarded NT$100 million to Taipei's semi-official agency for negotiating with Beijing to expand its operations.

US-Taiwan Business Council Says China Diplomacy Complicates Semicon Investment (AFX, Aug. 10, 2005) The US-Taiwan Business Council in a statement warned that China's recent engagement of Taiwan opposition leaders and unilateral moves on trade liberalization will likely to lessen the chances that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's administration will relax the island's restrictions on cross-strait semiconductor investment.

Chen Updates Cross-Strait 'Guidelines'
(Taipei Times, Aug. 7, 2005) Announcing the "one principle, three insistences and five oppositions" as the government's new guidelines for cross-strait policy, President Chen Shui-bian said.

More Than 66,000 Taiwan Investment Projects Approved by Mainland (Xinhua, Aug. 3, 2005) China's mainland approved a total of 66,028 Taiwan-invested projects at the end of June this year. These projects involved a total contractual Taiwan investment of 84.1 billion US dollars, with 40.7 billion dollars already in place

First Taiwan Fruit Under Chinese Plan Hits Shanghai
(China Post, Aug. 2, 2005) The first batches of fruit to be sold in the mainland under a Chinese plan made without consulting Taipei to abolish import taxes reached Shanghai yesterday afternoon, amid criticism and praise from politicians here.

Chen Warns Businessmen of PRC Risks
(CNA, July 30, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian urged local businessmen to conduct proper risk assessments and management while engaging in economic and trade activities with China, which he called a competitor and threat to Taiwan.

PRC Scraps Tariffs on 15 Taiwan Fruits
(Taiwan News, July 29, 2005) Beijing announced the lifting of tariffs imposed on 15 fruits exported to China from Taiwan. The move, to take effect August 1, received a muted response from the Chen administration.

Taiwan, China Inch Closer on Tourism Talks
(Reuters, July 19, 2005) Taiwan has authorized a private group to handle talks with China on allowing mainland tourists to visit the island, marking a step forward in lifting a decades-old ban.

Fruit Offensive Politically Driven, Claims President
(Taiwan News, July 26, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian accused China of dangling a "100 percent politically motivated" tariff-free policy for local fruit exports to woo local farmers away from the governing Democratic Progressive Party and help the pan-blue opposition win the 2008 presidential election.

MAC Refuses Beijing Offer to Allow Official Talks
(China Post, July 25, 2005) Taipei refused an unusual offer from Beijing permitting official involvement for talks on importing Taiwan fruits -- but said it would continue to monitor China's actions to see if there was any improvement.

China Eases Travel Rules for Taiwanese
(Reuters, July 25, 2005) China has simplified exit and entry rules for Taiwan residents as part of a campaign to foster closer economic ties with the island, state television said.

AIT Official Suggests Beijing Drop Preconditions to Talks
(Taiwan News, July 19, 2005) AIT official called on both the PRC to engage in "dialogue with the democratically elected leadership of Taiwan" and urged both sides to "to pursue dialogue without preconditions as soon as possible."

Chen Insists on Gov't-to-Gov't Talks Regarding Farm Exports to China (China Post, July 15, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian repeated his stance of engaging in only government-to-government cross-strait talks on the exports of Taiwan agricultural produce to China.

China's President Meets with New Party Head
(Taipei Times, July 13, 2005) Chinese President Hu Jintao met the leader of the New Party and said they should join hands to promote Taiwan's unification with China.

Taiwan's President Urges China to Open Direct Dialogue With Him (CNA, July 13, 2005) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian called on China to engage in direct dialogue with the elected leader of Taiwan. Chen made the remarks during a meeting with Randall Schriver.

KMT to Continue Push for Taiwan, China Exchanges
(CNA, July 11, 2005) The opposition Kuomintang (KMT) will send another delegation to China in late July to promote cross-Taiwan Strait exchanges, including Taiwan agricultural exports to China and Chinese people's sightseeing visits to Taiwan.

Don't Read Too Much into Chen's Words, MAC Says
(Taipei Times, July 9, 2005 ) President Chen Shui-bian's recent statements discouraging DPP legislators from visiting China should not be viewed as indicative of the government's overall policy on cross-strait communications.

DPP Lawmakers Cancel Trip to China
(Taiwan News, July 8, 2005) Five ruling Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers said that they have changed their minds about attending a cross-strait conference next month due to the political sensitivity of the visit.

New Party Team Arrives in China as Chen Urges Better Defense (AFP, July 7, 2005) The third Taiwan opposition party delegation in little more than two months arrived in China Wednesday, as the island's president said better defenses were needed against a possible mainland attack.

More Political Figures Set to Visit China
(CNA, July 6, 2005) The so-called "China fever" in Taiwan created by two opposition party leaders with their recent trips to Beijing is continuing unabated, with at least six more groups planning to visit China in July and August.

MAC Rejects 'Homeland' Meeting Idea
(CNA, July 5, 2005) Taiwan's top China affairs official rejected Beijing's proposal that a cross-Taiwan Strait summit be held "in our own homeland" - meaning China or Taiwan, instead of a third country.

President Cautions on Many Dangers of China Investment
(CNA, June 29, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian said that Taiwanese high-technology industries have increasingly tilted to China, making it imperative for the administration to exert tighter controls for national security s well as for the industries' own survival.

Taiwan to Allow Chinese Banks to Open for First Time
(Bloomberg, June 23, 2005) Taiwan will allow Chinese banks to open representative offices for the first time since the island broke away from China.

Farmers' Group to Visit China, Discuss Exporting Fruits
(China Post, June 19, 2005) An association representing Taiwan farmers will visit China next week to discuss with its counterpart exports of the island's fruits across the strait.

China Eases Curbs on Hiring of Taiwanese Workers
(Straits Times, June 16, 2005) China has lifted restrictions on the hiring of Taiwanese, delivering on a promise made last month to make it easier for them to travel, work and study on the mainland.

Chen Outlines Agenda for Fruit Exports to PRC
(TN, June 16, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian outlined one principle and three measures as part of the government's plan to advance the export of Taiwanese agricultural products to China.

Premier Announces New Steps to Boost Cross-Strait Exchanges (CNA, June 14, 2005) Taiwan's Premier Frank Hsieh announced three key policy measures to promote civilian and commercial exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Chang Chun-hsiung Takes SEF Chair
(Taiwan News, June 11, 2005) Chang Chun-hsiung, former premier and current lawmaker, was elected as the new chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, a semi-official organization that helps to mediate on civil cross-strait exchanges.

China Scraps Import Tariffs on Taiwan Fruits
(Straits Times, June 2, 2005) Following up on goodies pledged during the recent mainland visits of two Taipei politicians, China said it will drop import tariffs on 15 Taiwanese fruits.

Haiti Gets Caught Up in China-Taiwan Standoff
(AFP, May 29, 2005) Haiti's need for United Nations peacekeepers to remain for an extended mandate suddenly took on new complexity this week, when the impoverished nation found itself entangled in the diplomatic standoff between China and Taiwan.

KMT Wants Debate Between Ma and Wang on Cross-Strait Issues (China Post, May 27, 2005) The Kuomintang is scheduling a debate on party lines between two contenders for chairman, Ma Ying-jeou, mayor of Taipei, and Wang Jin-pyng, president of the Legislative Yuan.

Taiwan's Chen Has Chances for Contact With China, Lien Says (Bloomberg, May 23, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has the opportunity to have ''direct contact'' with China's leaders, said Lien Chan, head of the island's main opposition party.

Official Talks Needed for Entry of Chinese Tourists: MAC Chief (China Post, May 22, 2005) Taipei insisted that government-to-government talks must be held over the opening of Taiwan to Chinese tourists, cold-shouldering Beijing's proposal that private sectors should be commissioned to handle the matter.

China To Allow Mainlanders To Visit Taiwan – Report
(Reuters, May 20, 2005) China is to lift a decades-old ban on mainland tourists visiting political rival Taiwan, a move that could further ease tension after visits to China by two of the island's opposition leaders.

Cross-Strait Private Sector Talks on Agriculture Sensitive: Coa
(CNA, May 17, 2005) Council of Agriculture (COA) Chairman Lee Chin-lung said that his council is reserved about private sector talks between Taiwan and China to discuss Taiwan's farm exports to China.

Taiwan's Chen Rules Out Shaking Hands With China's President (Bloomberg, May 7, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said the island is an independent country and he couldn't shake hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao because of their differences over the island's sovereignty.

US Seeks Elusive Government Dialogue to End Taiwan Conflict (AFP, May 7, 2005) Resumption of high-level political ties between Taiwan and China has eased US security concerns but President George W. Bush is pushing for government-to-government contacts between the arch-rivals for any permanent resolution to their conflict.

Taiwan President Seeks to Cool China Fever
(Reuters, Apr. 6, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has asked his government to investigate any unauthorized contacts with China and review the island's trade policy with its arch foe in a bid to cool what he called was a mainland fever.

China Leader Mixes Rhetoric on Taiwan
(NYT, Mar. 5, 2005) Hu Jintao, China's Communist Party chief, took a militant stance against what he called "secessionist forces" in Taiwan, but also cited "new and positive factors" that could reduce cross-strait tensions.

Taiwan-China Trade Up 33.1 Percent in 2004
(AFP, Mar. 1, 2005) Total trade between Taiwan and China in 2004 rose 33.1 percent to 61.64 billion US dollars on the back of the mainland's rapid economic expansion, the Board of Foreign Trade said.

Taiwan Urged to Back '1992 Consensus'
(China Daily, Feb. 28, 2005) Taiwan affairs officials urged Taiwan authorities to recognize the "1992 Consensus" as a step to solving the major problem in cross-Straits relations.

Chen, Soong Sign 10-point Consensus
(Taipei Times, Feb. 25, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong reached a consensus to acknowledge and respect the current definition of Taiwan's status, create a legal basis for cross-strait peace, and reiterated their support for the Republic of China.

Chen Hints at a Softer Approach to Beijing
(IHT, Feb. 25, 2005) Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, issued a joint declaration with a leading opposition politician that sought to heal divisions over Taiwan's future and held open the possibility of reconciliation with the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan Open for Unification with China
(AP, Feb. 24, 2005) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian told an opposition leader that he would not shut the door on eventual unification with rival China if Beijing expressed goodwill.

Taiwan Investigating Chip Giant
(AP, Feb. 17, 2005) Taiwan is investigating chip giant United Microelectronics Corp. for allegedly making illegal investments in rival China, prosecutors said.

Wen Marks New Year with Pledge to Unify with Taiwan
(AP, Feb. 9, 2005) China's premier said on Monday that his country would work together with Taiwan to unite as one country.

China Signals Slight Shift In Policy Toward Taiwan
(WP, Jan. 29, 2005) The Chinese leadership signaled a slight softening of its policies toward Taiwan on Friday, offering to open talks with any Taiwanese leader "regardless of his past rhetoric and actions."

Taiwan's Premier-Elect Prepares for Softer Stance on China
(Financial Times, January 27, 2005) Frank Hsieh, Taiwan's designated premier, has raised hopes that his cabinet will adopt a more pragmatic stance towards China.

Beijing: Cross-Straits Situation Remains Grave
(China Daily, January 26, 2005) A Chinese mainland official said in Beijing that the situation of cross-Straits relations remained severe though non-governmental exchanges had kept developing last year.

China Floats Taiwan Road Link Plan
(Reuters, Jan. 14, 2005) China has floated long-term plans for what would be one of the new wonders of the world -- a highway linking it with arch foe Taiwan, an island about 200 km offshore.

MAC Welcomes Proposal for Direct Flights with China
(China Post, Jan. 11, 2005) Taiwan yesterday welcomed a proposal from China to exchange the first direct flights between the two sides in more than half a century and called for speedy negotiations.

Koo Chen-fu, Taiwan's Chief Negotiator with China, Dies Aged 87 (AFP, Jan. 3, 2005) Koo Chen-fu, Taiwan's chief negotiator with China, has died of cancer, leaving behind his hopes for reconciliation between the long-time rivals. He was 87.

Impasse in Talks Likely to Remain By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, Dec. 31, 2005) The death of Chinese cross-strait negotiator Wang Daohan following that of his Taiwanese counterpart almost a year earlier has thrown into greater uncertainty the resumption of stalled cross-strait talks.

China Policy Not Decisive Factor in Taiwan Polls By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, Dec. 16, 2005) China should not read too much into the recent electoral defeat of Taiwan's independence-leaning DPP because the Dec 3 local elections were just that - about roads and schools, and not Taiwan's sovereignty.

Countdown to Taiwan's Co-optation By Robyn Lim
(Japan Times, Dec. 14, 2005) The resounding defeat of Taiwan's ruling party in recent local elections means that China may soon be able to take Taiwan by a combination of enticement and threat. That could occur after Taiwan's March 2008 presidential elections, in the leadup to the Beijing Olympics.

Easing of China, Taiwan Tensions 'a Relief'
(Straits Times, Dec. 8, 2005) Experts in the United States are relieved that tensions between China and Taiwan are easing, but they say it remains to be seen whether the Taiwanese President will soften his stance towards China.

U.S. Scholar Says Taiwan, China on Path of 'Interim Agreement'
(Central News Agency, Dec. 7, 2005) Taiwan and China seem to be treading on a path of a so-called "interim agreement" on improved bilateral ties, Harry Harding claimed.

KMT Win a Victory for Ties with Beijing By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, Dec. 5, 2005) The opposition Kuomintang's resounding victory over the independence-leaning DDP in Taiwan's municipal elections is expected to benefit ties between the island and China.

Q&A: The Dispute Between China and Taiwan
(New York Times, Nov. 22, 2005) President George Bush fanned the flames of the longstanding conflict between China and Taiwan during his November 16 speech in Kyoto, at the start of a week-long state visit to Asia.

Interview: Taiwan President Sees No Rush for China Talks
(Reuters, Oct. 7, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said his go-slow policy would benefit the 23 million people on the island more than accepting as a precondition for talks China's vision of one country that includes both Taiwan and the mainland.

Chen a Confused Lame Duck
(Editorial, China Post, Aug. 10, 2005) The mainland policy of President Chen Shui-bian's administration has been so incoherent that it is becoming increasingly difficult to understand its true intentions -- to push for better relations with the mainland or to advance its nation-building agenda.

Geopolitical Antagonisms Snarl Cross-Strait Issue
(Editorial, China Post, Aug. 6, 2005) The dynamics of recent geopolitical changes among the Asia-Pacific region's four big powers -- China, Japan, Russia and the United States -- are likely to complicate the already volatile relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Taking Economics and Security into Account
(Taipei Times, Aug. 1, 2005) President Chen Shui-bian's recent public comments have stressed that Taiwan should take both economic and national security interests into account, saying that "effective management" is a must for the government to control Taiwanese businesspeople investing in China.

China Has "Status Quo" Advantage By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, July 27, 2005) Hu Jintao has a "new Taiwan policy." In essence, the policy is that China can live with Taiwan for some time under a "no independence" status quo.

Never-Ending Story of Never-Never Land By Frank Ching
(Japan Times, July 21, 2005) The recent visits by three Taiwan opposition leaders to mainland China illustrates the new policy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, which is a marked departure from that of his predecessor, Jiang Zemin.

MAC Warns China's Invitations to Leaders Part of Its 'Divide and Rule' Strategy (Taiwan News, July 11, 2005) After its enactment of an anti-secession law in March, Beijing deftly managed to deflect the world's attention away from the controversial legislation by entertaining Taiwan opposition leaders on Chinese soil.

Lively Politics Worries China By Harvey Stockwin
(Japan Times, June 23, 2005) Although Taiwan's latest constitutional reforms preclude any declaration of formal independence for the foreseeable future, they do strengthen Taiwan's democratic development.

China Boosts Help for Taiwanese Abroad By Goh Sui Noi
(Straits Times, June 18, 2005) When the Chinese embassy in Tokyo spoke up for Taiwanese legislator May Chin and her group of protesters earlier this week, it was not the first time that the Chinese government had given support to Taiwanese overseas.

Experts: China/Taiwan Economic Ties Could Further Unification By Stephanie Ho (Voice of America, June 16, 2005) As economic ties between China and Taiwan continue to grow, a group of experts in Washington discussed what impact cross-straits trade has on the political arena.

Beijing More Flexible in Dealings With Taiwan, But Harder on Stance (Central News Agency, June 14, 2005) China seems to have adopted a softened approach toward Taiwan, although the Beijing leadership led by President Hu Jintao has shown little flexibility in its stance toward Taiwan.

US Calls on Beijing to Talk to Chen By Charles Snyder
(Taipei Times, June 9, 2005) In his testimony to Congress, the State Department's top East Asia official said that China should drop its insistence on `one China.'

AmCham Urges Direct Cross-Strait Talks By Jane Rickards
(China Post, June 1, 2005) The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei said it was encouraged by the opposition leader's trips to China but said they had so far brought no economic results, urging direct Beijing-Taipei government-to-government talks.

Hu-Chen Meeting Possible If President Can Placate His Party By Jane Rickards (China Post, May 29, 2005) Analysts yesterday remained divided on whether a meeting between China's President Hu Jintao and President Chen Shui-bian would take place.

Chen at a Crossroads over Cross-Strait Policy By Emile Sheng
(Taipei Times, May 23, 2005) In setting up his cross-strait policy, Chen has to consider the reactions of Washington, Beijing, opposition parties, independence forces in Taiwan, the DPP's factions and public opinion.

Taiwan Vote Sends Beijing Message By Catherine Armitage
(Australian, May 16, 2005) Taiwan's people reconfirmed their distaste for the "one country" model on Saturday by delivering the ruling Democratic Progressive Party a victory in National Assembly elections.

China Wrests Initiative from Chen with Overtures By Goh Sui Noi (Straits Times, May 12, 2005) When China passed its anti-secession law in mid-March, cross-strait tension rose several notches. What a difference a month made.

Taiwan, China in Tug of War over Hearts of Farmers By Annie Huang (Associated Press, Apr. 16, 2005) China has discovered a new and possibly more effective weapon to achieve its goal of unification: wooing farmers with the promise of a big market for their glut of fruits and vegetables.

Taiwan Strait Suddenly Looks Narrower

W T O Issue