Historic visit by Beijing envoy to broaden relations with Taiwan
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Chen Yunlin, chief negotiator for Beijing arrived in Taipei this morning for what can be described as an historic meeting, to broaden relations between China and Taiwan.
Chen (see photo), head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, ARATS, is the highest ranking Chinese official to visit the island in at least 60 years. Accompanying him is a delegation of over 60 business representatives. Over the next 5 days Chen and a Taiwan delegation including President Ma Ying-jeou will discuss a series of economic issues.
The visit is taking place in a moment of series tension and under strict control in the wake of the series of accusations against China over toxic foods (see melamine milk) and after Chen’s vice, Zheng Lingqing, was manhandled during a visit to the island last month by anti Beijing protesters. Demonstrations have been planned over the coming days to protest the visit. In recent weeks the opposition DPP (Democratic Progress Party) has led protests in Taipei asking President Ma not to “sell out” on Taiwan’s sovereignty. China considers the Island to be a “rebel province”, which is in the precincts of reintegration with the motherland, even if Taiwan enjoys autonomy with its own president and democratically elected parliament.
Under DPP leadership and the presidency of Chen Shuibian, Taiwan came very close to declaring independence out right, which would have infuriated Beijing. Since may last, with the victory of Kuomintang party and the rise of Ma Ying-jeou, relations with Beijing have warmed; Taiwanese investments in China have increate; direct flights between Taiwan and some Chinese cities began; the island opened up to Chinese tourists; Taiwanese universities began accepting Chinese students. According to Ma Ying-jeou these decisions will help the Taiwanese economy, even if the benefits have yet to be seen.
Four agreements are expected to be signed during Chen's visit - including pacts on expanding air links, opening shipping and postal links and setting up a framework to deal with food safety issues.
Weekend "direct" flights, are seen as not sufficient and still need to be routed through Hong Kong airspace due to security concerns. Discussions will focus on making the flights really direct. Shipping cargo directly between Taiwan and the mainland will also be discussed. Ships now detour through Hong Kong and the outer islands of Japan or South Korea, wasting money and time. Direct shipping can boost Taiwanese fruit exports to China, Ma said, by reducing delivery time in half, to just four days or even 10 hours, ensuring freshness and prolonging shelf life.
Financial and banking relations are also set to top discussions. Ma Ying-jeou wants China to open up more bank branches on the island and Beijing investors to enter the Taipei markets. China is Taiwan's largest export destination and second-largest source of imports. By the end of 2007, investments in China made up about 61% of Taiwan's outbound investments. Alla fine del 2007, gli investimenti in Cina erano il 61% di tutti gli investimenti di Taipei all’estero.
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