2007
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 ; 2006
PRC: Policy and Documents
Text: 'The One-China Principle and the Taiwan Issue'
(New China News
Agency, Feb. 21, 2000)
China Releases White Paper on Taiwan Issue
(People's
Daily, Feb. 21, 2000)
Taiwan:
Policy and Documents
Mainland Affairs Council mainland affairs
documents, statistics on cross-strait exchange, cross-strait dialogue and
negotiation, public opinion surveys
MOFA Appeals to U.S. over China Air Routes
(China Post, Dec. 19, 2007) Taiwan
has conveyed its deep concern to the U.S. State Department and relevant
agencies regarding China's
planned flight path close to the median of the Taiwan
Strait.
Taiwan Lifts Objections to
Chinese Judge at WTO
(AFP, Nov. 28, 2007) Taiwan
on Tuesday lifted its objections to the appointment of a Chinese judge to the
World Trade Organization’s top court, ending a row that threatened to
paralyze the institution, trade sources said.
Taiwan Wants PRC Nominee to
WTO to Vow Fair Treatment
(Taipei Times, Nov. 27, 2007) Taiwan will continue to object to the
appointment of a Chinese judge to the WTO's top
legal panel unless the judge makes a clear statement assuring fair treatment
and that statement is recognized by the world trade body, government
spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey
said.
WTO Warns Taiwan Risks
Institutional Crisis over Judge Dispute
(AFP, Nov. 24, 2007) Taiwan's decision to block the appointment of a Chinese
judge to the World Trade Organization’s top court risks causing an
institutional crisis. "I'm extremely concerned that if the situation
persists much longer we will have a crisis in this organization," the
chairman of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body Bruce
Gosper told journalists.
Taiwan Blocks China's WTO Nominee
(Reuters, Nov. 20, 2007) Taiwan
blocked the appointment of China's
first judge on the World Trade Organization's highest court. The WTO's dispute settlement body had been due to consider
the appointment of members of the WTO's appellate
body, but Taiwan
asked for that item to be removed from the agenda.
Chen Calls Tsao's Plan a
'Surrender'
(Taiwan News, Nov. 14, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
referred to the "peaceful coexistence law across the Taiwan Strait"
proposed by United Microelectronics Corp. honorary chairman Robert Tsao as an attempt to obstruct Taiwan's independence
movement and promote unification with China under the cover of peace.
UMC's Tsao Urges Law on
Peaceful Co-Existence
(China Post, Nov. 13, 2007) In a half-page advertisement run in three
mass-circulation dailies, the chairman emeritus of United Microelectronics
Corporation said he expects the presidential candidates of the two parties to
give up their U.N. bids, saying they are an exercise in futility. "If Taiwan adopts
a cross-strait peaceful co-existence law, relations between the two sides of
the Strait can begin to develop in the right direction," said Tsao.
Taiwan to Keep China
Investment Cap
(AP, Nov. 7, 2007 ) Taiwan
President Chen Shui-bian said that the island
should maintain restrictions on investment in rival China until
his term ends. Chen, who steps down in May 2008, spoke a day after
presidential candidate Frank Hsieh of his Democratic Progressive Party
announced plans to review a cap on Taiwanese investment in the mainland if he
is elected.
Cross-Strait Ties Growing:
Taiwan Affairs Office
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Nov. 5, 2007) Nearly
400,000 Taiwanese currently live on the Chinese mainland at the end of
September this year, including more than 18,000 who have settled down,
according to the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council. There have
been about 270,000 cross-strait marriages between people from the mainland
and Taiwan.
Ma Ying-jeou Reiterates
Support for '92 Consensus'
(Taiwan News, Nov. 2, 2007) An alleged
policy shift from the 1992 Consensus by the Kuomintang caused panic among its
supporters. But the KMT's presidential candidate Ma
Ying-jeou said that the document was not an
official policy-statement, and that there was no need for a fuss to be made
over it. Ma reiterated that he had always advocated the 92 Consensus as part
of the party's policy.
Siew Touts 'Cross-Strait
Common Market' as Protective Measure (Central News Agency,
Oct. 21, 2007) The main opposition Kuomintang vice presidential candidate
said that although a cross-Taiwan Strait common market is a "goal"
that cannot be achieved at this point in time, such a market nevertheless
represents a "protective shield for Taiwan's future."
Hsieh Welcomes Chinese
Investment
(China Post, Oct. 19, 2007) Frank Hsieh, Democratic Progressive
Party standard bearer, is distancing himself from President Chen Shui-bian, who is calling the shots in the campaign for
2008.
Taiwan's Chen Says No Peace
Deal with China
(AFP, Oct. 16, 2007) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian snubbed a peace overture made by China, saying
Taipei would never sign what he called a "surrender agreement"
based on Beijing's "one-China" principle.
Ma Declares Future of Taiwan
Should Not Be Decided by China
(Taiwan
News, Oct. 16, 2007) It
is up to the people of Taiwan
- and not China
- to decide
the island's future, opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou said.
Taiwan Angered by
Intimidation of Top Gamers
(Taiwan News, Oct. 10, 2007) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed
support for a Taiwanese participant at the World Cyber Games who was
threatened by Chinese players after he unfurled a ROC flag at awards ceremony
in Seattle.
Olympic Torch Won't Enter
Taiwan
(AP, Sep. 21, 2007) The International Olympic Committee said that
negotiations between Taiwan
and China on the torch
relay route for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games are at a dead end, and the
torch will not be coming to Taiwan.
China's Trade with Taiwan Up
13 Percent
(AP, Sep. 20, 2007) China's
trade with Taiwan
rose 13 percent to US$77.5 billion the
first eight months of this year compared with the same period a year ago. China's exports to Taiwan rose 14.4 percent to
US$15.2 billion, while imports rose 12.6 percent to US$62.4 billion.
Taiwan and
China Squabble over Olympic Torch By David Lague
(IHT,
Sep. 17, 2007) After a month of talks in which both sides made important concessions,
Tsai Chen-wei, chairman of the Taiwanese Olympic
committee, flew to Beijing
on Sept. 6 to sign an accord on the matter. But within 24 hours, he returned
to Taipei
empty-handed.
Taiwan Asks Businessmen To
Be Cautious in Investing in China
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Sep. 3, 2007) Taiwan urged local businessmen to be cautious
in investing in rival China
following a dispute between the island's biggest retail chain and its Chinese
venture partner.
Chen Departs for Alaska en
route to Central America
(AP, Aug. 21, 2007) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian
pledged to make an all-out effort to counter China's offensive to isolate the
self-ruled island as he left Tuesday for a summit with Central American
leaders.
China More Hostile Toward
Taiwan: Survey
(Central News Agency, Aug. 20, 2007) A majority of respondents of a recent survey said China has become
more hostile toward the Taiwanese government and people than before,
according to a senior official of the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council
(MAC).
Taiwan Must Stress Trade
Contribution to Win Friends: Ex-Premier
(Straits Times, Aug. 8, 2007) Taiwan must let the
leaders of South-east Asia know the contribution Taiwan makes to regional trade
and economics. Doing so could help the island overcome the difficulties it
faced in deepening economic ties with the region, including signing free
trade agreements, said Mr Vincent Siew.
Fishing Dispute Sparks
Taiwan Strait Stand-Off
(AFP, July 30, 2007) Six Taiwanese fishing vessels accused of drifting
illegally into Chinese territory in the Taiwan Strait
have been released following a tense stand-off. Three Chinese fishing
authority patrol boats intercepted the Taiwanese vessels in the strait early
Saturday morning.
KMT Protests Textbook Changes
(Taipei Times, July 22, 2007) The Kuomintang (KMT) protested the Ministry of
Education's plan to revise some 5,000 terms in school textbooks relating to
the nation's ties with China.
"Cross-strait relations" could be changed to "nation-to-nation
relations" and Sun Yat-sen's title as the
Republic of China's (ROC) founding father could be removed.
President Firm on Refusing
to Recognize PRC Diplomas
(Taiwan News, July 22, 2007) Taiwan
would be shooting itself in the foot if it allows Chinese nationals to attend
Taiwan colleges, said
President Chen Shui-bian, reiterating that diplomas
earned in China will
remain unrecognized in Taiwan
as long as he is president.
Taiwan-China Tourism Talks
Stalled, Raising Doubts about Parallel Economic Progress (AP, July 18, 2007) Negotiations
to bring more of China's tourists to Taiwan are not making progress, a senior
Taiwanese official said Wednesday, raising doubts for a broad-ranging accord
on closer economic ties between the two rivals.
Ma Unveils Plan for
Cross-Strait Flights
(China Post, July 12, 2007) Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou mapped out his plan for Taiwan-China direct flights,
which designates six international and domestic airports as the local
destinations for cross-strait routes.
Taiwan Welcomes Use of
'Chinese Taipei'
(CNA, June 28, 2007) Taiwan welcomes Beijing's move to
address it with the official title that it uses in the International Olympic
Committee (IOC). It marked a major change in Beijing's
references to Taiwan
on Olympic affairs. For years, Beijing has
addressed Taiwan as "Taipei, China"
instead of the IOC-sanctioned designation "Chinese Taipei."
Beijing Stands Firm on
Taiwan Torch Relay
(Reuters,
June 24, 2007)
Beijing insists that Taiwan
will only be included in the 2008 Olympic torch relay under the terms of the
written agreement reached with the island's Olympic Committee earlier this
year. When the route was
announced in late April, the Taiwan
government said it could not accept the torch because Taipei's
position on the relay -- after Ho Chi Minh
City and before Hong Kong -- implied it was part of China.
Taiwan Determined Not to Be
the Next Hong Kong
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur, June 21, 2007) President
Chen Shui-bian has said on several occasions that
Taiwan's 23 million people do not want to lose their freedom and democracy by
letting Taiwan become the second Hong Kong. Chen's stance is supported by the
majority in Taiwan.
Hsieh says Taiwan Must Lead
the Way in Direct Links Talks
(Taipei Times, June 19, 2007) Taiwan's values must not be compromised even if
direct transport, trade and postal services are opened with China, Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh said.
Ma Says Missiles Must Go for
China Talks
(Taiwan News, June 17, 2007) Taiwan refuses to hold any dialogue with China
until Beijing removes the missiles currently aimed at the island, said
Kuomintang presidential nominee Ma Ying-jeou recalling his conversation with top United
States envoy Raymond Burghardt.
Top US Liaison for Taiwan
Hopes for Better Mainland Relations after Elections (AP, June 15, 2007) The top U.S. liaison
for relations with Taiwan said he hopes the island's March 2008 presidential
elections will bring about improved ties between Taiwan and its rival, China.
Outcry at Plan to Restrict
Taiwan-China Marriages
(AFP, June 13, 2007) Taiwan's
controversial plans to restrict Chinese women from marrying its men sparked
strong criticism from the island's leading opposition party. Taipei's interior ministry is looking at
plans to restrict Chinese women from marrying Taiwanese men on the grounds
that it is causing hostility across the Strait.
Missiles Must Go Before
Talks with China, Ma Says
(Taipei Times, June 5, 2007) The Kuomintang's(KMT) presidential candidate, Ma
Ying-jeou, said he would demand that China remove
the missiles targeting the nation before Taipei and Beijing can resume
negotiations or reach a peace accord.
Taiwan Opposition Leader
Vows to End Hostility with China
(AFP, June 5, 2007) The presidential candidate for Taiwan's
leading opposition Kuomintang on Monday vowed to end hostility with rival China and
inaugurate direct transportation links if elected in the 2008 polls.
Ma Aims to Prevent
Isolation: KMT Official
(China Post, June 4, 2007) Ma said in a recent interview that he will open
direct transportation between Taiwan
and mainland China
within one year if he is elected president next year. Ma had originally said
that he would open direct cross-strait transportation within two years.
OIE Compromises on Bid by
PRC to Absorb Taiwa
(Taiwan News, May 26, 2007) Taiwan refuses to be reduced to a
"non-sovereign regional member" but can partially accept being
called "Chinese Taipei" in the World Organization of Animal Health,
said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night, hours after the organization
passed a resolution to change Taiwan's status and membership name in response
to China's demand at an assembly in Paris.
Expand Cross-Strait Ties to
Enhance U.S.-Taiwan Partnership: AIT Chief (China Post, May 22,
2007) The top U.S.
diplomat in Taiwan
suggested that Taiwan
further open its economic relationship with China as an effective way to help
improve the U.S.-Taiwan trade partnership.
Taiwan Accuses China of
Buying Former Ally Senegal
(AFP, May 14, 2007) Taiwan's
new de facto envoy to the United States
has accused China
of using hundreds of millions of dollars to lure a key ally, in the latest
round of diplomatic jostling between the two rivals.
Taiwan Rejects China's Offer
to Allow Chinese Students to Study
(Deutsche Presse-Agentur, May 1, 2007) Taiwan indirectly rejected an offer by China to allow Chinese students to study on
the island, a day after Beijing extended an
olive branch to Taipei
during a forum to improve cross-strait ties.
China Lets Taiwan Invest in
Shipping, Container Firms
(Reuters, Apr. 30, 2007) China
said it will let Taiwan
invest in wholly owned shipping and container transport firms and operate
ports and highways, in Beijing's
latest attempt to woo the island with economic sweeteners.
Taiwan's Opposition Eyes
Trade Deals with China
(Reuters, Apr. 26, 2007) Taiwan's
main opposition party is eyeing closer trade ties with China to
boost the island's economy and the party's chances in presidential elections
in 2008.
Agencies Angry at Rules on
Hosting Chinese
(CNA, Apr. 25, 2007) Scores of representatives of travel service operators
rallied in front of the Tourism Bureau yesterday to protest what they called
"unreasonable restrictions placed on hosting Chinese tourists."
They said that the requirement that operators spend no less than US$80 daily
for each member of a Chinese tourist group should be lifted.
Taiwan, China in Spat over
Olympic Torch
(AFP, Apr. 24, 2007) An official from Taiwan denied that the country had
agreed with political rival China to host a leg of the Olympic torch relay,
as Beijing prepared to unveil the torch design and relay route.
DPP Makes Decision on
Olympic Torch
(Taipei Times, Apr. 19, 2007) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said
that the Olympic torch for the 2008 Beijing Games must not enter or exit Taiwan via China,
Hong Kong or Macau.
China Chamber Takes Aim at
Ban on Taiwan Travel
(Reuters, Apr. 16, 2007) A hiking-gear businessman was appointed to head
China's first national-level Taiwan chamber of commerce, pledging to lobby
for an end to the ban on direct transport between the estranged island and
mainland.
Chen Ming-tong Takes Up Post
as MAC Head
(Taiwan News, Apr. 13, 2007) The preservation of Taiwan's
sovereignty and national dignity will be the foremost priorities of any negotiations
with China
in the future, said Chen Ming-tong, the new Mainland Affairs Council
chairman.
New KMT
Leader to Visit China Soon, Official Says
(AP, Apr.
10, 2007) The newly elected leader of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT)
will visit China by the end of this month, a senior member of the party said.
Cabinet
Appoints New MAC Chairman
(China
Post, Apr. 10, 2007) Chen Ming-tong, professor of political science at Taiwan University, will succeed Joseph Wu as
chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council.
New KMT Chair Vows to Promote Cross-Strait Peace
(TN,
Apr. 9, 2007) The newly elected leader of Taiwan's
opposition Kuomintang Wu Poh-hsiung said that the
KMT will continue promoting peace and development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in a letter in reply to Chinese President
Hu Jin-tao.
`Small
Three Links' Opened to Penghu County Residents
(Taipei
Times, Apr. 1, 2007) Residents of Penghu County
will be able to sail to China for sightseeing and trade using the existing
"small three links" route via Kinmen and Matsu, President Chen Shui-bian
announced.
MAC Says
Government Fully Backs Wang's Trip
(TN,
Apr. 1, 2007) The Mainland Affairs Council said that President Chen Shui-bian's administration fully supports Legislative
Speaker Wang Jin-pyng's plan to visit China and
that the related agencies will render whatever assistance Wang needs to
facilitate the trip.
Presidential
Office Denies Authorizing Speaker’s Planned China Visit (CNA, Mar. 29, 2007) The
Presidential Office has discounted as a "groundless rumor" a local
newspaper report that Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng
may receive an official mandate to visit China to negotiate certain
critical issues.
US Envoy Calls for Expanded
Taiwan-China Links
(AFP, Mar. 22, 2007) The United States has urged Taiwan to expand economic
links with China if it is to be a regional business hub, saying its national
interests would not be endangered by closer ties.
Ma Vows to Relax Investment
Rule on China if KMT Wins 2008 Vote
(Taiwan News, Mar. 21, 2007) If the
Kuomintang is returned to power in 2008, it will free up Taiwan's policy on
investment in China and will negotiate with China for direct cross-strait
flights and with Japan and Korea for aviation rights in order to promote the
"dual golden aviation circles", former KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said.
China-Taiwan Charter Flights
to Begin
(AP, Mar. 20, 2007) China
announced a new round of charter flights with Taiwan on Monday in an effort to
temporarily skirt a ban on direct transport links between the historical
rivals.
Chinese Lawmakers Ignore
Taiwan Remarks
(AP, Mar. 13, 2007) China's
lawmakers are ignoring unusually strong pro-independence remarks from the
Taiwanese president, saying that any response will only encourage him.
China Allows SEF Official to
Visit
(China Post, Mar. 8, 2007) China
allowed an official of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Taiwan's semi-official organization
responsible for negotiations with China, to visit the mainland for
the first time in eight years.
China Unblocks Taiwan
Newspaper Web Sites
(Reuters, Feb. 5, 2007) China
has allowed access to Internet versions of two of Taiwan's top daily newspapers
after blocking them for years for fear they would spread anti-Communist
propaganda.
Beijing Allegedly Seeking
Ties with Ruling DPP
(CNA, Feb. 5, 2007) A local Chinese-language daily reported that Beijing has
stepped up contacts with Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),
particularly in the wake of the mayoral elections held in Taipei and Kaohsiung late last year.
Beijing Slams Taipei over
Changes to Textbooks
(Reuters, Feb. 1, 2007) China
lashed out at Taiwan
for dropping phrases from high-school history textbooks that link the two as
one country, and said the move was another step towards promoting the
island's independence.
China-Taiwan Trade Tops 100
Billion Dollars in 2006
(Agence France Presse,
Jan. 18, 2007) Trade between rivals China
and Taiwan
jumped 18.2 percent last year to exceed 100 billion dollars for the first
time. China's exports to Taiwan last
year were up 25.3 percent over 2005, while its imports rose 16.6 percent
during the period.
Taiwan, China Carriers to
Offer 96 Charter Flights for Lunar New Year
(AFP, Jan. 16, 2007) Six airlines each from Taiwan and China are slated to
provide a total of 96 cross-strait passenger charter flights during February
13-26 for the Lunar New Year holiday period.
China to Buy 1,200 tons of
Surplus Oranges from Taiwan
(China Post, Jan. 13, 2007) After buying 2,000 tons of surplus bananas from Taiwan, China has agreed to buy 1,200
tons of surplus oranges from the island, media reported.
Premier Calls on China to
Hand over Rebar Fugitive
(Taipei Times, Jan. 12, 2007) Premier Su Tseng-chang
urged China
to deport Rebar Asia Pacific Group chairman Wang You-theng.
"Many Taiwanese white-collar criminals escape to China. Some
of them even make donations to local organizations in China,"
Su said.
Taiwan Relaxes Regulations
for Some 'Chinese' Media
(AFP, Jan. 6, 2007) Taiwan announced that it will allow reporters from Chinese-controlled
Hong Kong and Macau media to be stationed in Taipei to promote "balanced
coverage" of the island.
China Says Taiwan's Leader
Trying to Ruin Ties
(AFP, Jan. 2, 2007) The Chinese government has said Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian
is trying to ruin bilateral ties, as it reacted angrily to his New Year
message insisting the island was not part of China, according to state media
reports.
Taiwan President Denies Rift
with Premier on China Policy
(AP, Jan. 1, 2007) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian
denied he was at odds with the island's premier on policy toward rival China, days
after a government decision on high technology exports to the mainland
angered Chen's pro-independence backers.
Cross-Strait Opening 'Stuck'
on Sovereignty Issue: Vice Premier
(CNA, Dec. 27, 2007) Vice Premier Chiou I-jen said that it is easy to talk about liberalizing
business and trade exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, but difficult to
really do it. Chiou said that actually doing so
would be a real challenge, as any opening is "stuck" at the thorny
issue of sovereignty.
Presidential Hopefuls Differ
on Path to Cross-Strait Peace
(Taiwan News, Nov. 13, 2007) Responding to comments made by honorary United
Microelectronics Corp. chairman Robert Tsao, who
called for a peace agreement between Taiwan and China. KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou said if that if elected, he would seek to end the
hostile standoff across the Taiwan Strait and sign a peace accord between Taiwan and China. However, China must first remove the missiles targeting
Taiwan
as a precondition for the deal. Hsieh said he disagreed with Tsao's call for the DPP government to suspend its push
for a referendum on Taiwan's
entry to the U.N.
Most of Taiwan's Foreign
Investment Is in China: Study
(Central News Agency, Nov. 4, 2007) Some 82 percent of Taiwan's
overseas investment is in China
because of China's
location, cheap labor and business potential. A Ministry
of Economic Affairs poll of 1,770 Taiwanese manufacturers showed China has
become the biggest magnet for investment by the nation's manufacturing
industry.
Chronicle of Cross-Strait
Exchanges over Past Two Decades
(Xinhua News, Nov. 3, 2007) Friday marked the 20th anniversary of the
Taiwan
authority lifting its ban on islanders visiting the mainland on Nov. 2, 1987.
Following are some major events chronicling exchanges between the Chinese
mainland and Taiwan
over the past two decades: Nov. 2. 1987 - The Taiwan Red Cross Society began
to accept visit applications filed by Taiwan
residents, and a great number of Taiwan people started their
mainland journey the next day, ending nearly 40 years of isolation between
the two sides.
Hu Looks for New Taiwan
Approach But China's Soft Stance May Change If Moves Toward Independence
Continue (Yomiuri Shimbun,
Oct. 27, 2007) During the Congress, Hu revealed
China's policy on Taiwan, which took a relatively soft line, as symbolized by
his use of the phrase "peaceful development" during his speech. If Taiwan suddenly accelerates its drive toward
independence, China
might shift its apparently soft stance to a tougher one. Then, Hu's "harmonious world" diplomatic approach
will collapse.
For China, How To Manage
Taiwan? By Robert Ross
(Forbes, Oct. 22, 2007) One of the
most significant developments at China's 17th Party Congress was
what did not happen. In contrast to past party congresses, China's Taiwan policy has been a
non-issue this year. This moderation in China's
Taiwan policy does not
suggest that Chinese leaders have moved beyond the Taiwan issue. Chinese
party leaders in Beijing remain fixated on Taiwan. Taiwan is the
foremost symbol of Chinese nationalism.
Investors Look to Taiwan in
Hopes of Cashing in on China Boom By Keith Bradsher
(New York
Times, Oct. 20, 2007) Investors from professional money managers to small
holders of emerging market mutual funds face a volatile ride in the coming
months as Taiwan prepares for legislative elections in January and
presidential elections in March.
China Call for Taiwan Accord
a Bypass
(Associated Press, Oct. 19, 2007) A call by Chinese President Hu Jintao for a peace treaty with Taiwan
was not directed at the island's current leader, but at one of the two men
who will replace him after next year's elections, Taiwanese analysts said.
Taiwan Leader Dismisses Hu Overture By Keith Bradsher
(New York
Times, Oct. 18, 2007)
President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan
denounced a peace overture from President Hu Jintao of China that
has received a cautious welcome here from both candidates for the
presidential election next March.
Failure of Olympic Torch
Talks “A Missed Opportunity”
(Straits
Times, Sep. 24, 2007) The
failure of talks to bring the Olympics torch to Taipei
is a missed opportunity for both China
and Taiwan. Worse still, it
descended into political bickering. This is the first time in the history of
the Olympic Games that any city has rejected the torch.
Taiwan and China: The
Masochist and the Sadist By Tom Plate
(Straits Times, Aug. 14, 2007) Of all the places of Asia, Taiwan
deserves to be near the top of the list in terms of having earned the world's
respect. But therein we find the tale. But as a nation-state, it has at least
one significant flaw.
China, Taiwan and the Battle
for Latin America By Daniel P. Erikson
and Janice Chen (Latin Business Chronicle, Aug. 13, 2007) In order
to counter Chinese attempts to lure away its few remaining allies, the
government of President Chen Shui-bian has sought
to broaden and diversify the avenues for interaction between Taiwan and its
Central American and Caribbean partners since taking office in 2000.
Stability in Taiwan Straits
Vital to Peace in East Asia: Lee Kuan Yew
(Channel News Asia, Aug. 13, 2007) Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said
stability in the Taiwan Straits is vital to US-China relations, and to peace
and stability in East Asia. He said the
situation must be carefully managed by all sides. Mr Lee said he explained
this to visiting Taiwan's
politicians, Vincent Siew of the KMT and
presidential candidate Frank Hsieh of the ruling DPP.
Politics Rules as Taiwan
Cold Shoulders Olympic Countdown
(Associated Press, Aug. 9, 2007) As China geared up for an elaborate
celebration marking the one-year countdown to the 2008 summer Olympics in
Beijing, rival Taiwan was watching warily from the sidelines — if at all.
Ideological Debate Rages
within China's Communist Party
(Agence France Presse,
July 18, 2007) A heated ideological debate within China's ruling Communist
Party over how to solve the nation's social ills is spilling out into public
view ahead of a major political gathering late this year.
China, Taiwan in Battle for
Latin American Support
(AFP, July 11, 2007) Bitter rivals China and Taiwan continued to escalate their battle for
support in Latin America,
with officials from both criss-crossing the region.
Latin America has become a major
battleground for the two rivals with each accusing the other of luring allies
away with "checkbook diplomacy.
China's Diplomatic Gain Is
Taiwan's Loss By Edward Cody
(Washington Post, July 9, 2007) As China becomes more
integrated into the world's economic and political system -- and increasingly
loses its stigma as a Cold War adversary -- the competition in recent years
has become increasingly difficult for Taiwanese diplomats. The number of
countries recognizing mainland China
has risen to 169 while Taiwan's
score has declined to 24.
PRC Will Not Hesitate to Go
to War over Taiwan, Says French Scholar (Taiwan News, July 4, 2007) The Chinese want peace and will to try
avoid conflicts at all cost, except in the case of Taiwan, said Thierry de Montbrail, the founder and the president of the French
Institute of International Relations, spoke to the European Chamber of
Commerce in Taipei.
China Woos New Generation of
Taiwanese with Junkets By Peter Enav (Associated Press, June
23, 2007) Over the past several years, a new generation of Taiwanese has been
participating in all-expense-paid Chinese junkets. These events -- seminars,
camps, university programs and academic conferences -- are part of a
well-coordinated effort to show a kinder, gentler side of China.
Stop Cross-Strait War over
Recognition: Ma
(China Post, June 14, 2007) Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has called for a "cease-fire" across the
strait, saying he would not be seeking mutual recognition between Taiwan and China, but "mutual
non-denial."
Freedom and Democracy are
the Foundation for Cross-Strait Dialogues By Ma Ying-jeou (United Daily, June 4,
2007) On the 18th anniversary of the Tiananmen Incident, we must sincerely
note that freedom and democracy must be the common language shared by Taiwan and Mainland China. And freedom and democracy
is the only key to establishing effective dialogues and building mutual
confidence between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan Alliances Threatened
as U.S. Influence Declines
(Agence France Presse, May 30,
2007) China is taking advantage of a declining U.S. influence in Central and
Latin America to woo Taiwan's few remaining allies in the region, analysts
here say, threatening to further isolate the island.
The Route to Taiwanese
Hearts and Minds By Goh Sui
Noi
(Straits Times, May 7, 2007) Accusing China of belittling Taiwan is the ruling party's way of
reinforcing Taiwan's
national identity through building hostility towards China. Not
that this is a new game in Taiwan.
Pro-independence politicians have long sought to create conditions for the
island's formal independence by promoting a distinctive Taiwanese identity.
Chinese Tourists Giving
Taiwan a Miss This Year
(Straits Times, May 2, 2007) Cross-strait talks have been stalled by
political differences over the lifting of restrictions on mainlanders
traveling to Taiwan. Chinese tourists are currently barred from heading
directly to the island. Instead, they are required to stop in a third country
before they can enter Taiwan.
China's Charm Offensive on
Taiwan Is Failing, Say Analysts
(Straits Times, Apr. 30, 2007) China
wooed the Taiwanese public with more economic sweeteners unveiled at an
annual cross-strait forum in Beijing attended
by Taiwan
opposition veteran Lien Chan. However, earlier enticements have apparently
been dud shells as China has not gotten any nearer to getting Taiwan to open
up to big-spending mainland tourists.
From “Twin Circles” to “Twin
Centers”: Reviving the Vigor of Taiwan’s Economy By Ying-jeou Ma (Address at the Merrill
Lynch Taiwan,
Mar. 20, 2007) If the KMT regains power in 2008, our policies include three
steps. There will first be a preparatory period when domestic opinions are
harmonized. The second step involves the normalization of relations across
the Taiwan Strait. The third step is to
encourage and assist Taiwanese companies to
compete in the global market.
Beijing Is Failing to Win
Hearts and Minds By Lo Chih-cheng
(Taipei Times, Mar. 22, 2007) It has now been two years since China passed
its "Anti-Secession" Law. In a recent survey, Taiwan Thinktank
found that 73.9 percent of Taiwanese believe that China's
enactment of the law constitutes a hostile intent toward Taiwan's
government and people.
China to Sustain Soft Line
on Taiwan
(Reuters, Mar. 22, 2007) China
will continue to speak softly in managing its tricky relations with Taiwan, after brandishing the big stick seemed
to backfire on Beijing,
analysts said.
Joseph Wu: Political Buffer
between US and Taiwan
(Taipei Times, Mar. 20, 2007) Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu,
the newly appointed de facto ambassador to the US, will play the role of a
political buffer between the US and Taiwan to defuse any diplomatic tension
during what remains of President Chen Shui-bian's
term in office.
Chen's Remarks Fail to
Provoke Response
(Straits Times, Mar. 17, 2007) Provocation was on President Chen Shui-bian's mind when he dropped his recent bombshell
that 'Taiwan
wants to be independent'. But if he thought his declaration would rile China and the United States the same way his
previous remarks had done, he was wrong.
PRC Begins Engaging DPP
Officials By Chong-Pin
Lin
(Taipei
Times, Mar 16, 2007) China's
so-far subtle adjustment of its Taiwan policy is significant in
three aspects. First, Beijing is beginning to shed its self-imposed taboo of
boycotting the DPP administration to prepare for the likelihood of another
four -- if not more -- years of DPP rule after President Chen steps down.
| 