The Chinese government announced a new set of 10 incentive measures to promote cooperation and exchanges with Taiwan, covering tourism, trade, and entertainment media, following a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Mrs. Cheng Li-wen, chairwoman of the Kuomintang, Taiwan's main opposition party.
China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that the Chinese government revealed 10 new measures on Sunday to enhance relations and welfare between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This announcement came on the last day of the Kuomintang (KMT) delegation's visit to China, the largest opposition party in Taiwan.
After the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen, the Chinese authorities approved key policies to restore relations on multiple fronts. These include plans to resume pilot programs allowing independent tourists from Shanghai and Fujian Province to visit Taiwan, promote full-scale direct flights between Taiwan and various Chinese cities such as Urumqi, Xi'an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou, and establish mechanisms to relax inspection standards on agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan to facilitate exports to China.
Beyond economic measures, China also announced it would permit the import of Taiwanese television dramas, documentaries, and animations for broadcast domestically, provided that the content "follows the correct direction, promotes healthful values, and is produced with high quality."
However, all these measures are stated to be based on the political premise of "opposing Taiwan independence." During a press conference, the Kuomintang leader emphasized the need for younger generations to "avoid war" by opposing Taiwan independence, aligning with President Xi Jinping's statement that the trend toward closer ties and eventual reunification between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is irreversible.
While the Kuomintang welcomed these measures, saying they align with the expectations of many sectors in Taiwan, the Taiwanese government under President Lai Ching-te has yet to issue any immediate direct response.
China continues to refuse dialogue with Taiwan's current government, labeling it a "separatist group," while Taiwan has frequently complained that China uses plant and animal disease concerns as a political tool to ban imports of Taiwanese agricultural goods.
. . .Reuters/ AFP