Bangkok: China declared on Sunday it plans to revive select paused relations with Taiwan, such as direct air links and aquaculture imports, in response to a visit from the self-governed territory’s opposition leader aligned with Beijing.
The Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office announced in a statement intentions to establish an enduring liaison system between itself and Taiwan’s Kuomintang Party. It committed to resuming imports of Taiwanese aquaculture items previously barred, AP reported.
Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun conferred with President Xi Jinping in a prominent Friday meeting, advocating for peace absent specifics. Beijing asserts Taiwan belongs to it and reserves the right to force unification.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, managing mainland ties, critiqued the steps — including the communication proposal — as “political transactions” evading government involvement.
“The government’s position is clear: to ensure the interests of the nation and its people, all Cross-Strait affairs involving public power must be negotiated by both governments on an equal and dignified basis to be effective and truly protect the rights and well-being of the people,” the council stated regarding China’s move.
Tensions Persist Post-2016 Polls
Relations across the strait, sundered since 1949, deteriorated after pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party President Tsai Ing-wen’s 2016 victory. China ended nearly all official exchanges with Taiwan’s leadership and intensified near-daily warplane and naval approaches.
The announcement includes resuming Taiwan-mainland flights to hubs like Xi’an or Urumqi, though rollout hinges uncertainly on Taipei’s consent.
A 2019 Chinese ban blocks individual travel to Taiwan; Taiwanese policy requires Chinese tourists to first secure residency visas from countries like the United States or European Union.
Bridge Plans And Eased Import Bans
China vowed progress on a bridge spanning to Taiwan’s Matsu and Kinmen outposts, closer to its coast—an idea Beijing has pitched repeatedly.
Import halts began with Taiwanese pineapples in 2021, extending to other produce, grouper fish, squid, and tuna.
After the grouper prohibition, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture requested import standard revisions from China. Beijing approved a limited roster of exporters without explanation.
