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:
STILL COMMITTED: The US opposes any forced change to the ‘status quo’ in the Strait, but also does not seek conflict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US President Donald Trump’s administration released US$5.3 billion in previously frozen foreign aid, including US$870 million in security exemptions for programs in Taiwan, a list of exemptions reviewed by Reuters showed. Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign aid shortly after taking office on Jan. 20, halting funding for everything from programs that fight starvation and deadly diseases to providing shelters for millions of displaced people across the globe. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has said that all foreign assistance must align with Trump’s “America First” priorities, issued waivers late last month on military aid to Israel and Egypt, the
‘UNITED FRONT’ FRONTS: Barring contact with Huaqiao and Jinan universities is needed to stop China targeting Taiwanese students, the education minister said Taiwan has blacklisted two Chinese universities from conducting academic exchange programs in the nation after reports that the institutes are arms of Beijing’s United Front Work Department, Minister of Education Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) published yesterday. China’s Huaqiao University in Xiamen and Quanzhou, as well as Jinan University in Guangzhou, which have 600 and 1,500 Taiwanese on their rolls respectively, are under direct control of the Chinese government’s political warfare branch, Cheng said, citing reports by national security officials. A comprehensive ban on Taiwanese institutions collaborating or
France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines yesterday after holding combat drills with Philippine forces in the disputed South China Sea in a show of firepower that would likely antagonize China. The Charles de Gaulle on Friday docked at Subic Bay, a former US naval base northwest of Manila, for a break after more than two months of deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. The French carrier engaged with security allies for contingency readiness and to promote regional security, including with Philippine forces, navy ships and fighter jets. They held anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training on Friday in
COMBAT READINESS: The military is reviewing weaponry, personnel resources, and mobilization and recovery forces to adjust defense strategies, the defense minister said The military has released a photograph of Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) appearing to sit beside a US general during the annual Han Kuang military exercises on Friday last week in a historic first. In the photo, Koo, who was presiding over the drills with high-level officers, appears to be sitting next to US Marine Corps Major General Jay Bargeron, the director of strategic planning and policy of the US Indo-Pacific Command, although only Bargeron’s name tag is visible in the seat as “J5 Maj General.” It is the first time the military has released a photo of an active