The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday described a plan outlined by Beijing to economically integrate China’s Fujian Province with Kinmen County in Taiwan as a “trap” that was intended to save China’s failing property market under the pretense of benefiting Taiwanese.
Commenting on the plan during a question-and-answer session at the legislature in Taipei, DPP Secretary-General Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄) said that past measures introduced by China as “beneficial” to Taiwanese have failed to produce any benefit, or have come with special conditions attached.
“China’s housing market is very sluggish at present, and the youth unemployment rate in China continues to soar. The sudden announcement of measures to benefit Taiwan is a bit unexpected, since China is facing its own purchasing-power problems,” Chuang said.
Nearly 30 cities in China have relaxed or canceled residential purchase restrictions in a bid to revive the nation’s housing market, he said, adding that Beijing has now opened up housing purchases to Taiwanese apparently toward the same end.
Xinhua news agency on Tuesday reported that Beijing would encourage Taiwanese firms in Fujian Province to list on Chinese stock exchanges, citing a statement jointly issued by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council.
It also said Beijing would support innovative ways of cross-strait capital cooperation and encourage the setup of an integration development fund, but did not give further details.
China has increased its military presence near Taiwan, while at the same time crafting long-term economic and social plans for the nation, which it envisions would one day be “reunified.”
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
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Representative to the US Alexander Yui delivered a letter from the government to US president-elect Donald Trump during a meeting with a former Trump administration official, CNN reported yesterday. Yui on Thursday met with former US national security adviser Robert O’Brien over a private lunch in Salt Lake City, Utah, with US Representative Chris Stewart, the Web site of the US cable news channel reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. “During that lunch the letter was passed along, and then shared with Trump, two of the sources said,” CNN said. O’Brien declined to comment on the lunch, as did the Taipei
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