The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday described as "insincere" Beijing's proposal to negotiate an easing of cross-strait travel bans, but it did not object to holding talks on the matter, arguing that relaxing restrictions on tourism had been a longstanding policy.
Council Vice Chairman You Ying-lung (游盈隆) said that bilateral relations needed a "good start" and that discussions on cross-strait cargo flights were an appropriate place to begin any dialogue.
You's comments followed an announcement by Beijing's China National Tourism Administration that tourism restrictions would be eased. The administration offered new negotiations along the lines of the talks in January that preceded the Lunar New Year charter flights.
Negotiations on the non-stop charter flights were conducted in Macau by government-authorized business representatives under government supervision.
According to China's Xinhua News Agency, Beijing also said yesterday that relaxing restrictions on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan was an "issue between Chinese across the Taiwan Strait."
The association said relaxation of the policy would be gradual and needed the cooperation of representatives from both sides.
"The mainland has called for talks on the issue with Taiwan's tourism authorities and promises that the new policy will be introduced in a planned, gradual and orderly manner," the news agency reported.
"China hopes Taiwan's tourism organs will be authorized to consult with the mainland on the issue of opening up Taiwan's tourism," it said.
The council, however, criticized Beijing's announcement as insincere. You said Beijing was not precisely clear about what it wanted, stressing that Beijing had not provided any concrete details about the new travel measures it wished to adopt.
You also said that government talks were necessary, but did not say whether the Council would actively engage its counterpart in talks.
He said that direct cargo flights were the government's top priority at the moment, but did not rule out talks on tourism matters being held first.
He also said that the freeze on bilateral contact was the result of China's restrictions.
Taiwan formerly refused entry to Chinese nationals, but in recent years the government has allowed entry for those who arrive via a third destination and to Chinese nationals who live abroad.
Beijing first announced plans to lift restrictions on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan at the end of last month, following Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) tour of China.
Beijing's proposal also follows Taiwan's latest unsuccessful attempt to enter the World Health Organization after objections by China.
Premier Frank Hsieh (
"Chinese visitors would be allowed to stay in Taiwan for no more than 10 days during their trip. We basically welcome Chinese people to come to Taiwan and witness our democracy. It is a good thing," he said at a press conference yesterday.
Hsieh was first asked why he would hold a press conference yesterday given that President Chen Shui-bian (
"We decided to hold this press conference when we learned that the Presidential Office would not make any comment about the president's anniversary. We never intended to make front-page news by doing this," Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said.
Also see story:
GEARING UP: An invasion would be difficult and would strain China’s forces, but it has conducted large-scale training supporting an invasion scenario, the report said China increased its military pressure on Taiwan last year and took other steps in preparation for a potential invasion, an annual report published by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday showed. “Throughout 2023, Beijing continued to erode longstanding norms in and around Taiwan by employing a range of pressure tactics against Taiwan,” the report said, which is titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 2024.” The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “is preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force, if perceived as necessary by Beijing, while simultaneously deterring, delaying or denying
‘ONE BRIDGE’: The US president-elect met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 in Florida and the two discussed a potential Taiwan-China conflict’s implications for world peace US president-elect Donald Trump has described Taiwan as “a major issue for world peace” during a meeting with Akie Abe, the widow of late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun quoted sources as saying in a report yesterday. Trump met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two discussed the Russo-Ukrainian war and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. During the meeting, Trump spoke on the implications for world peace of a potential Taiwan-China conflict, which “indicated his administration’s stance of placing importance on dealing with the situation in
QUICK LOOK: The amendments include stricter recall requirements and Constitutional Court procedures, as well as a big increase in local governments’ budgets Portions of controversial amendments to tighten requirements for recalling officials and Constitutional Court procedures were passed by opposition lawmakers yesterday following clashes between lawmakers in the morning, as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members tried to block Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators from entering the chamber. Parts of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) passed the third reading yesterday. The legislature was still voting on various amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) as of press time last night, after the session was extended to midnight. Amendments to Article 4
ALLIANCE: Washington continues to implement its policy of normalizing arms sales to Taiwan and helps enhance its defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said US President Joe Biden on Friday agreed to provide US$571.3 million in defense support for Taiwan, the White House said, while the US State Department approved the potential sale of US$265 million in military equipment. Biden had delegated to the secretary of state the authority “to direct the drawdown of up to US$571.3 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,” the White House said in a statement. However, it did not provide specific details about this latest package, which was the third of its kind to
RSS