Three Links and Cross-Strait
Contacts
"One Country on Each
Side" Statement
Anti-Secession Law
Opposition Visit to China
[PRC Policy] [Taiwan Policy] [News] [Papers]
~ 2001 ; 2002 ; 2003 ; 2004 ; 2005
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.
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."
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 By Frank Ching
(Japan Times, Feb. 6, 2005) The political atmosphere in the Taiwan Strait has
improved considerably in recent days following the inauguration of nonstop
charter flights between the two sides during the Chinese New Year holidays..
Jiang's Reunification Plan Falls
on Deaf Ears
(Editorial,
China Post, Jan. 30, 2005) It's time
for Jiang's successors to find out what's wrong and
make amends, otherwise the island will keep drifting further from the
mainland.
Flights From Taiwan to Mainland
Signal Softer Tone From Beijing (New York Times, Jan. 29, 2005) China struck a more conciliatory
posture toward Taiwan and offered to restart diplomatic talks, an overture
that came on the eve of the first direct flights.
China Using Both Carrots and
Sticks
(Taipei Times, January 28, 2005) Beijing will take both a harder and a softer
line when dealing with Taiwan in the future, making more concessions on
non-political topics while remaining uncompromising on sovereignty issues,
academics said.
Trend of China's Taiwan
Policy Crystallizes, Expert Analysis
(People’s Daily, January 27, 2005) The practical significance of "Jiang's eight-point proposition" has again drawn
people's attention as the trend of the central government's policy toward
Taiwan has become increasingly clear and has begun to gain the initiative in
cross-Strait relations.
China Says Ties with Taiwan Grim Despite Flights By Benjamin
Kang Lim (Reuters,
Jan. 26, 2005) Direct charter flights between foes China and Taiwan beginning
this weekend will not improve relations due to the island's persistent push
for formal statehood, a Chinese government spokesman said.
China Slows and Taiwan Feels
Fallout By Theresa Tang
(Bloomberg, Jan.. 25, 2005)
Taiwan's export orders
grew more slowly in December and industrial production fell as an economic
slowdown in mainland China.
Cross-Strait Ties Enter New
Territory By Nat Bellocchi
(Taipei Times, Jan. 21,
2005) The history of cross-strait relations since 1979 has always
seen short-term moves to address the realities of the change that takes place
continuously. We now may be witnessing another phase in this relationship.
Dancing with the Enemy
(Economist, Jan. 13, 2005) For all the hostility between Taiwan and mainland China, their respective economies
are now deeply interdependent. That should help to keep the peace.
Guidelines Are Key to
Breakthrough By C. V. Chen
(Taipei Times, Jan 14,
2005) If we read the contents of the Guidelines for National
Unification carefully, we can find that they resemble a superior blueprint
closely woven for the benefit of all Taiwanese people.
China, Taiwan
Eye Direct Flights
(Reuters, Jan. 11, 2005)
Arch-rivals China and Taiwan may exchange their first direct flights
in more than five decades under a proposal hammered out by Chinese
policymakers and Taiwan
opposition legislators in Beijing.
Critics See China Behind
Hong Kong's Snub of Taipei Mayor By K..C. Ng and Philip P. Pan (Washington Post, Jan. 11, 2005) A sign of the changing relations
among mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- when the former British colony
abruptly refused to grant Ma a visa last week for an unofficial, three-day
visit to attend cultural and academic events here.
Death of Envoy
Unlikely to Hurt Ties
(Straits Times, Jan. 4,
2005) While China yesterday expressed regret at the passing of
key Taiwan
cross-strait negotiator Koo Chen-fu, analysts
believe it will have little effect on cross-strait ties.
‘Soft Talk’ Across the
Taiwan Strait By Anne Wu
(Boston Globe, Jan. 3, 2005) If soft power does not become the preferred tool
in managing the mainland-Taiwan-US triangle, the Taiwan issue could easily
become the Waterloo in China-US relations.
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