Cross-Strait Issues

Polls

Survey on President Ma Ying-jeou’s Performance for His Two Year Anniversary in Office, Democratic Progressiv Party’s China Policy and the Future Cross-Strait Relations (GVSRC, May 25, 2010) President Ma and his administration received 55.1 on a 0-100 point scale. Meanwhile, 53 percent of people said the exchanges between DPP and mainland China would advance Taiwan’s interests.

Survey on Taiwanese People’s Trust in the U.S. President, Cross-Strait Leaders and Major Political Parties and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC, Nov. 23, 2009) 52.9 percent of Taiwanese say Obama is friendly toward Taiwan; meanwhile, President Ma’s approval rating this month is 28.3 percent.

Survey on President Ma Ying-jeou’s Performance after Assuming KMT Chairpersonship, Ma-Hu Meeting, and Taiwanese People’s Views on Unification with China and Independence (GVSRC, Oct. 22, 2009) President Ma’s approval rating is 29.5 percent; meanwhile, 43.9 percent said it was appropriate if President Ma and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao met as leaders of ruling parties across the Strait.

Views on Current Cross-Strait Relations
(MAC, Oct. 2, 2009) A survey on people’s opinions on the cross-strait relations, conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council.

Poll on the Possible Ma-Hu Meeting
(China Times, Aug. 4, 2009) A survey on the public’s opinions about a possible Ma-Hu Meeting, translated by the Kuomintang News Network.

Survey on President Ma’s Approval Rating and Cross-Strait Relations After First Year of Direct Flights (GVSRC, Jul. 24, 2009) 35.5 percent of Taiwanese approve of President Ma’s governance; 44.2 percent of Taiwanese are satisfied with the benefits brought by direct cross-strait flights.

China Tops List of Unfriendly Countries Despite Improved Relations: Survey (CNA, Jul. 15, 2009) China has remained at the top of a list of countries that people of the younger generation believe are unfriendly toward Taiwan, according to the results of a survey released.

Taiwanese Mean Business, While Chinese See Family
(China Post, Jul. 1, 2009) About two-thirds of Taiwanese see China as a business partner or a friend at most, preferring to maintain at a certain distance, while over half of Chinese view their cross-strait counterparts as family, a survey shows. Survey on How Each Side of Taiwan Strait Views the Other polled by GVSRC and translated by the KMT net.

Poll on First Anniversary of Resumption of Cross-Strait Dialogues
(SEF, May 27, 2009) A poll on cross-strait relations conducted by the Strait Exchanges Foundation.

Survey on President Ma’s Approval Rating on First Anniversary of Inauguration and Cross-Strait Issues (GVSRC, May 25, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou’s approval rating on the first anniversary of his inauguration: his approval rating is 38.9 percent, and his disapproval rating is 48.6 percent.

One in Three Unimpressed by Chinese Tourists: Survey
(CNA, May 11, 2009) A total of 33 percent of the respondents to a recent poll said they are unimpressed with the influx of Chinese tourists, according to the results of the government-commissioned survey released.

Survey on Taiwanese People’s Attitude toward Economic Agreements with China and Cross-strait Exchanges (GVSRC, Nov. 10, 2008) 47.4% think the four agreements signed by SEF and ARATS in early November are beneficial to Taiwan.

Survey on Senior Chinese Envoy Chen Yunlin’s Upcoming Visit to Taiwan and Approval Ratings for the Ma Administration (Global Views, November, 2008) 50.3% of Taiwanese people support the government’s decision to invite Chen Yunlin. Meanwhile, 23.6% of Taiwanese are satisfied with President Ma’s performance.

Majority Support Visit by China’s Top Negotiator
(CNA, Oct. 23, 2008) A majority of people responding to a recent survey are in favor of the planned visit of a high ranking Chinese official to Taiwan, pollsters said.

Record Number of Taiwanese Say Cross-Strait Ties Friendly: Survey
(AFP, Apr. 14, 2008) A record number of Taiwanese considered cross-strait relations friendly after vice president-elect Vincent Siew's recent landmark meeting with China President Hu Jintao, a survey showed. The survey said 39.4 percent considered cross-strait relations as friendly.

Record-high Taiwanese Optimistic about China Ties: Poll
(AFP, Jan. 19, 2008) Nearly half of Taiwanese people are optimistic that the island's ties with rival China could improve this year, following the opposition's victory in last week's elections. Some 47 percent were hopeful for better cross-strait ties -- a rise of 14 percent from a similar poll last year and the highest since 2003, according to a survey conducted by TVBS cable news channel.

Chinese Official Meets with Farmers in Southern Taiwan
(CNA, Aug. 25, 2010) China's second-highest-ranking envoy to Taiwan met farmers in southern Taiwan's Tainan County to promote the direct sale of locally grown agricultural products to China.

Survey Indicates Majority Support for PRC Students
(Taipei Times, Aug. 15, 2010) While most Taiwanese favored allowing Chinese students to study in Taiwan, legal measures must be in place to manage their stay and protect the interests of local students, a poll released yesterday by the Taiwan Thinktank showed.

Taiwan, China Agrees on Economic Commission
(CNA, Aug. 14, 2010) Taiwan and China have agreed that an economic cooperation commission to be established under a recently signed trade pact will be headed by vice ministerial-level officials from each side, government sources said.

Taipei, Beijing Show Willingness to Discuss ‘92 Consensus’
(China Post, Aug. 13, 2010) A little more than one month after Taipei and Beijing signed a landmark economic pact, officials from both sides were showing willingness to tackle what is arguably the most sensitive political issue in cross-strait negotiations.

‘1992 Consensus’ Is Basis of Trust: Li
(CNA, Aug. 12, 2010) There was speculation that Li mentioned the “1992 consensus” in response to recent discussions about China's military deployments targeting Taiwan.

Anti-Secession Law Is Impeding Cross-Strait Ties: MAC
(CNA, Aug. 6, 2010) The Mainland Affairs Council called on China to review its Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan, which the council described as “something unnecessary” in cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Ma Wants Unconditional Missile Removal
(China Post, Aug. 3, 2010) Beijing should begin to remove its missiles pointed at Taiwan without preconditions because such a move will mark an important step towards improving relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, said the Presidential Office.

Beijing Adopting Two-pronged Policy toward Taiwan: MAC
(CNA, Jul. 26, 2010) Mainland Affairs Council said that China is still applying a two-pronged policy toward Taiwan by claiming to expand cross-strait exchanges while trying to isolate Taiwan internationally.

Ma Asks Wu to Carry Message to China Leader
(CNA, Jul. 12, 2010) President Ma Ying-jeou confirmed that he has asked Wu Poh-hsiung to pass a message to his Chinese counterpart conveying his hope for continued progress in bilateral ties after the signing of a landmark trade pact.

Sixth KMT-CPC Forum Opens in China
(CNA, Jul. 11, 2010) The implementation of a recently signed economic cooperation framework agreement between Taiwan and China was the center of discussion on the opening day of a forum between Taiwan's KMT and China's CPC in Guangzhou.

China and Taiwan to Hold Oil Spill Contingency Talks
(AFP, Jun. 21, 2010) The talks in Taipei, the third of their kind, could pave the way for exercises mobilising personnel and equipment from the two sides, an environmental official said.

China No. 2 Market for Taiwanese Farm Goods
(China Post, Jun. 19, 2010) China has emerged as the second largest export market for Taiwan's agricultural products following successive procurements by Chinese trade missions that visited Taiwan in the past few months.

MAC Chairperson Expresses Wish to Visit China
(CNA, Jun. 4, 2010) Senior MAC officials confirmed that Lai made the Hong Kong visit in her official capacity as MAC chief. Lai is the first minister-level Taiwanese official to visit Hong Kong, they said.

Ma Calls for ‘At Least 200’ More Flights to China
(AFP, May 31, 2010) Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said that “at least 200” more flights were needed each week between the island and the Chinese mainland to meet the growing demand from tourists.

Gov’t Denies China ‘Track Two’ Link
(CNA, May 29, 2010) The former top national security adviser to President Ma Ying-jeou denied media reports that a communication platform with Beijing separate from the main existing channel will be established under his leadership.

28 Weekly Songshan-Hongqiao Passenger Flights to Begin Soon
(CNA, May 22, 2010) Including the soon-to-be opened Songshan-Hongqiao flights, the total number of direct passenger flights between Taiwan and China will be increased to 370 per week from the current 270.

Taiwan’s Minister Meets with Chinese Counterpart at WHA
(CNA, May 18, 2010) Taiwan's top health official and his counterpart from China met on the sidelines of the opening of the World Health Assembly in Geneva to discuss possibilities for future cooperation.

Ex-NSC Chief Confirms Secret China Channels
(AFP, May 17, 2010) Taiwan's former security chief has confirmed for the first time that Taipei and Beijing used secret communications channels from 2008 as they worked to thaw glacial ties, it was reported.

Tsai Ing-wen Pledges to Pursue Pragmatic China Policy
(CNA, May 15, 2010) DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen advocated what she called a "pragmatic China policy" based on the principles of independent sovereignty for Taiwan and peaceful engagement with China.

No Political Precondition If DPP Meets China: Tsai
(China Post, May 15, 2010) Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen recently reiterated the party's position that it will not rule out holding talks with China, as long as no political preconditions are set.

China Shows Immense Buying Power in Taiwan
(AP, May 12, 2010) Orders worth some US$2 billion for high-tech products and farm produce. Offers of tax incentives for investment. A promise to send 120,000 tourists to Taiwan every year. Those were some of the deals signed off by a 2,000-strong delegation from China's Fujian Province.

DPP Denies Opening Talks with China
(Taipei Times, May 12, 2010) While Reuters quoted the DPP chief as saying the party had organized a group to open talks with China, the DPP said Tsai Ing-wen had not addressed that issue.

Cross-Strait Bill Passes 1st Review
(China Post, May 11, 2010) Lawmakers from both parties clashed again on the hot button topic concerning the opening of Taiwan's schools and examination to residents from mainland China.

China Opens First Office in Taipei
(CNA, May 8, 2010) China's top travel administrator presided over the opening in Taipei of mainland's tourism office, the first agency of any kind established by China in Taiwan.

Taiwan Opens Tourist Office in Beijing
(Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2010) Taiwan has opened a tourism office in Beijing, the island's first official presence in China's capital since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

Record High Percentage of Taiwan’s Exports Sent to China in April
(CNA, May 7, 2010) Over 44 percent of Taiwan's exports in April went to China, the highest ratio in history for the same month, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Ranking China Leader to Stay in South for First Time in Two Years
(AFP, May 6, 2010) A business delegation led by Fujian provincial Governor Huang Xiaqing arrived in Taiwan for a 6-day trip in which Huang will visit major cities including the southern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung often seen as “off limits” by Chinese officials.

Talks Must Be Based on ‘One China’: Xu
(China Post, May 4, 2010) Any dialogue between China and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must be based on the “One China” principle, a professor with Beijing Union University said.

DPP Leadership Signals Willingness to Talk to Beijing
(Taipei Times, May 3, 2010) Speaking on the party’s future China policy, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said that, stripped of political preconditions, the DPP “does not discount the idea of entering into direct and realistic dialogue with China.”

Lawmakers Clash Over PRC Students
(Taipei Times, Apr. 22, 2010) A legislative committee meeting descended into a fight KMT and DPP lawmakers clashed over two proposed bills that would recognize Chinese diplomas and allow Chinese students to study in Taiwan.

Chinese May Top Japanese for First Time As Top Taiwan Visitors
(Bloomberg, Apr. 20, 2010) Chinese visitors to Taiwan may surpass Japanese for the first time on record as relaxed rules spur travel to an island off limits to mainlanders for 60 years.

China, Taiwan to Open Cross-Strait Tourism Offices
(AFP, Apr. 12, 2010) China and Taiwan are to open tourist offices on each other's territory for the first time in 60 years amid fast warming relations between the two former bitter rivals, officials said.

Former Premier Given Permission to Visit Shanghai
(Taipei Times, Apr. 11, 2010) Former premier Liu Chao-shiuan was given the green light to visit Shanghai next month to officially open the Taiwan Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo, Executive Yuan spokesman Johnny Chiang said.

Taiwan May Spur a Democratic China: Li
(China Post, Apr. 8, 2010) The existence of Taiwan provides a momentum to spur democratization in China, a scholar from the communist country was cited as saying in Washington D.C.

Taiwan Retired Generals’ Mainland Visit Enriches Cross-Strait Exchanges: Top Political Advisor (Xinhua, Apr. 7, 2010) Top political advisor Jia Qinglin said the mainland visit by retired generals from Taiwan has enriched the content of exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and is a sign of improved ties.

Shanghai Mayor Visits Taiwan; Memo Expected
(China Daily, Apr. 6, 2010) Shanghai mayor Han Zheng kicks off his closely-watched Taiwan visit, a first among mainland's four central municipal governors, and is expected to secure a cooperation memo.

Shanghai Mayor to Visit Taipei for First Time to Lead Exchange Delegation (China Post, Apr. 5, 2010) Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng will visit Taipei tomorrow for the first time ever, leading a 200-member delegation to attend a forum on city-to-city exchanges, the Taipei City government said.

Su Nixes Plans to Attend Boao
(Taipei Times, Apr. 1, 2010) The former National Security Council chief will instead participate in a conference at Harvard University, where he said he will be able to speak out freely.

Cross-strait Trade Increased 77.1 Percent in Jan. and Feb.
(China Post, Mar. 26, 2010) Bilateral trade between China and Taiwan totaled US$18.91 billion during the first two months of 2010, a 77.1 percent increase from the same period last year, said China's Ministry of Commerce.

China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Arrives
(CNA, Mar. 26, 2010) China's Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei, traveling as the head of a 50 member Chinese business delegation, arrived in Taipei Thursday for a five-day visit.

Su Chi to Attend Boao Forum of Asia Next Month
(China Post, Mar. 22, 2010) There were reports that it was President Ma who is sending the delegates there to talk to the leaders in China and that they will exchange views about Taiwan's position with Xi Jin-ping, China's vice president during their stay.

Taiwan Approves Plans to Let Chinese Banks Invest
(Bloomberg, Mar. 12, 2010) Taiwan’s Cabinet has approved plans to allow mainland Chinese companies to invest in domestic lenders, brokerages and insurers, paving the way for a broader economic accord as cross-strait relations improve.

Gov’t Still Studying Steps to Woo Chinese Investment
(China Post, Mar. 9, 2010) The Ministry of Economic Affairs is still assessing the feasibility of further easing curbs on Chinese investment in Taiwan while Beijing authorities are more aggressively luring Taiwan capital by increasing lending to investors from the island.

Taiwan’s Stocks Index Most in Six Months on Mainland Trade Talks (Bloomberg, Mar. 1, 2010) Taiwan shares rose the most in six months on speculation China will agree on tax breaks for companies from the island, boosting their profits.

Visitors from China May Surpass Japanese in 2010
(China Post, Feb. 21, 2010) Although the Japanese were the largest group of foreign visitors to Taiwan last year, they may soon be overtaken by Chinese nationals in 2010.

Chinese Tourists Visit Taiwan in Record Numbers Over the Lunar New Year (China Post, Feb. 16, 2010) Travel related industries scrambled to serve the unprecedented number of mainland guests touring Taiwan over the holiday as more than 10,000 visitors arrived on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

DPP Presses for Legislative Task Force on Cross-Strait Affairs
(CNA, Feb. 8, 2010) The opposition Democratic Progressive Party reiterated Monday what it sees as the importance of setting up a legislative task force to oversee cross-Taiwan Strait affairs.

Taiwan May Announce Relaxing of China LCD Limit Controls
(Bloomberg, Feb. 4, 2010) Taiwan may announce a decision to relax restrictions on flat-panel display makers investing in China over the next two weeks, an economy ministry official said.

Too Early for Offices: SEF Chairman
(Taipei Times, Jan. 31, 2010) SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kun said that it would be too early for the foundation and China’s ARATS to set up offices on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan Tourism Growth Tops Asia on China Boom: Report
(AFP, Jan. 30, 2010) Tourism grew in Taiwan faster than anywhere else in Asia last year on the back of an influx of Chinese visitors, a report said.

CSI Cross-Straits 500 Index Launched
(China Post, Jan. 19, 2010) The CSI Cross-Straits 500 index was officially launched yesterday by the China Securities Index (CSI), tracking stocks in the China, Hong Kong and Taiwan bourses.

Haiti Aid a Telling Test of China-Taiwan Relations
(AP, Jan. 17, 2010) One of the world's trickiest relationships is being tested in devastated Haiti, where China and Taiwan are rushing aid to one of Taipei's few remaining diplomatic allies.

Chinese Capital Coming
(China Post, Jan. 16, 2010) The Chinese qualified domestic institutional investors (QDIIs) are expected to start making investments in the Taiwan stock market as early as next week after the Financial Supervisory Commission announced a set of enforcement rules.

More Than 600,000 Chinese Visited Taiwan in 2009: Media
(AFP, Jan. 1, 2009) More than 600,000 Chinese tourists visited Taiwan in 2009, state-run media reported, amid warming relations between the two sides.

Welcoming Chinese Is the Ultimate Diplomacy By Tom Walk
(Taipei Times, Aug. 24, 2010) Cutting off the lines of communication is not an option, while the reverse is beneficial for both sides. Of course, exchanges should be managed. However, opposing the entry of Chinese into the education system or workplace based on fear is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot.

Talk of the Day: Differences Over the ‘1992 Consensus’
(CNA, Aug. 12, 2010) Li Yafei, vice president ARATS, said at a seminar in Taipei that adherence by Taiwan and China to an anti-independence stance and the "1992 consensus" since 2008 has helped build trust and end confrontation between the two sides.

Rival Museums Retrace Route of China’s Imperial Treasures By David Barboza (New York Times, Jul. 7, 2010) The project is extraordinary because it was organized by rival museums, the Palace Museum of Beijing and the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, each of which claims to be the rightful home of the artifacts.

What Hong Kong Election Reform Tells Taiwan
(Editorial, Jun. 27, 2010) Decision makers from both the pro-China and pro-independent sides in Taiwan should give another look to Hong Kong's election reform to better understand China and devise smarter ways to deal with the People's Republic.

How to Measure Cross-Strait Peace By Tung Chen-yuan
(Taipei Times, Jun. 12, 2010) To achieve full marks, cross-strait peace must simultaneously meet four criteria — the absence of open military conflict, the existence of institutional mechanisms to safeguard peace, regular interaction between the two governments, the absence of animosity and the existence of considerable goodwill between the two populations.

Taiwan President: ‘A Long Way to Go’ before Talks with China By Howard Schneider (Washington Post, May 7, 2010) Despite warming relations and deepening trade ties, it is "premature" to consider a meeting between the leaders of Taiwan and China, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said.

Taiwan Gains Mainland Market Entry By Jonathan Adams
(New York Times, Feb. 12, 2010) Taiwan’s decision to relax some restrictions on investment in mainland China will help its flat panel manufacturers compete in the mainland’s booming consumer electronics market, analysts and company officials said.

The Politics of Disaster Relief: China, Taiwan and the Haitian Earthquake By Daniel Erikson (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Feb. 4, 2010) Faced with a skeptical audience abroad and a supportive one at home, the Haitian earthquake forced Chinese leaders to navigate the tricky politics of disaster relief.

Report Calls for Slow Approach to CBMs By William Lowther
(Taipei Times, Jan. 14, 2010) A major new US study warns that while it is important to build mutual trust, China and Taiwan should not move prematurely to discuss military CBMs and should wait until both sides are fully prepared.

Sir Isaac and the Law of Gravity in the Strait By James Holmes
(Taipei Times, Jan. 8, 2010) If Newtonian logic governs cross-strait affairs, a glance at the map implies that Taiwan will be drawn into China’s orbit. But Taiwan is better equipped than 19th-century Cuba, Hawaii or the Philippines to defy political gravity.

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