China Announces Plans to Resume Cross-Strait Economic and Transport Links
The measures, announced after a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's main opposition leader, include restarting direct flights and facilitating imports of Taiwanese aquaculture products.
Following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, China has announced plans to resume certain economic and transport links with Taiwan. The announcement has drawn a response from Taiwan's government, which stated that such arrangements must be negotiated directly between the two governments to be effective.
Announced Measures
On Sunday, China's Taiwan Work Office announced the resumption of several cross-strait interactions that had been suspended.
The specific measures include:
- Resuming direct flights between Taiwan and certain mainland Chinese cities.
- Facilitating the import of Taiwanese aquaculture products that were previously subject to import bans.
The office also stated it would explore establishing a long-term communication mechanism between the Chinese Communist Party and Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party.
Meeting Preceding the Announcement
The announcement followed a meeting on Friday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cheng Li-wun, the leader of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party. During the meeting, both sides called for peace.
Response from Taiwan's Government
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council responded to the announcement. It characterized the measures as "political transactions" between the two political parties that circumvented the Taiwanese government.
The council stated that for any cross-strait affairs involving public authority to be effective, they must be negotiated by both governments on an equal basis.
Implementation and Additional Proposals
The Chinese announcement did not specify how measures like resuming flights would be implemented without approval from the Taiwanese government. Taiwan currently requires Chinese visitors to hold a valid resident visa from a third country.
The statement from China's Taiwan Work Office also included a proposal to work toward constructing a bridge connecting the mainland to the Taiwanese islands of Matsu and Kinmen.
Background Context
- China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls "reunification." The two sides have been governed separately since 1949.
- Official relations have been strained since the election of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. China cut off most official dialogue with Taiwan's government at that time and has increased military activity near the island.
- Prior economic measures taken by China include a 2019 ban on individual Chinese tourist travel to Taiwan and a series of import bans on various Taiwanese agricultural and aquaculture products, starting with pineapples in 2021 and later extending to fruits like wax apples and citrus, as well as grouper fish.