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Chinese visit reveals Taiwan's distrust Distrust amid China-Taiwan deal
(about 10 hours later)
By Cindy Sui BBC News, Taipei Mr Chen and Mr Chiang want cordial talks on transport and trade links By Cindy Sui BBC News, Taipei Mr Chen and Mr Chiang led the talks, in the absence of diplomatic relations
China's top negotiator with Taiwan is set to begin talks in Taipei with his Taiwanese counterpart, in a visit widely seen as significant in helping reduce long-standing tensions between the two sides. China's top negotiator with Taiwan has signed landmark agreements with his Taiwanese counterpart, in a visit widely seen as helping reduce long-standing tensions between the two sides.
But protests during the visit have shown that large segments of Taiwan's population remain deeply distrustful of its long-time rival. But protests during the visit have shown that large segments of Taiwan's population remain deeply distrustful of the island's long-time rival.
Chen Yunlin, the highest ranking Chinese official to set foot in Taiwan since the two sides split in 1949, will hold talks with Taiwan's Chiang Pin-kung. Chen Yunlin, the highest ranking Chinese official to set foot in Taiwan since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949, inked agreements with Taiwan's Chiang Pin-kung that significantly ease transport and trade links.
The talks are aimed at easing transport and trade links. Under the pacts, the two sides agreed to triple the number of passenger flights and make them daily and direct. Twenty-one Chinese municipalities and cities will offer flights to Taiwan, from the current five.
Agreements to be signed will cover direct passenger and cargo flights, as well as shipping and postal links, which could boost trade between their economies - among the world's largest. For the first time, direct cargo flights and shipments will be allowed. KEY AGREEMENTS Direct flights and shippingPostal servicesFood safety, after various scares in mainland China class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/04/taiwan_flashpoint/html/introduction.stm">Taiwan flashpoint
In the past, relations between the two sides were very hostile - this visit shows cross-strait relations are headed toward a direction of conciliation Kou Chien-wenNational Chengchi University Direct transport links were previously banned due to security concerns. Flights and ships had to detour through third countries or regions, including Hong Kong, Macau, Japan or South Korea.
Weekend passenger flights across the Taiwan Strait launched in July are seen as inadequate. The new routes will cut flight times from Taipei to Shanghai by nearly two hours and sea navigation times from eight days to four days on some routes - helping both sides save tens of billions of dollars. They are also expected to boost trade and tourism between the two economies, both among the world's largest.
Taiwan's government is hoping Beijing will agree to expand them to daily flights, which could help increase the numbers of Chinese tourists. Taiwan is believed to be the main beneficiary of the transport links as they will cut operation expenses for the many Taiwanese businesses with factories and other investments in China.
In July, Taiwan began allowing in up to 3,000 Chinese tourists a day, but so far the daily average has been about 300, partly because of the high cost of tours and the difficulty in getting permission from the Chinese authorities.
The two sides are also hoping to sign agreements on direct shipping links, which could significantly reduce costs for the many Taiwanese businesses with factories and other investments in China.
Currently ships are diverted through Japanese or South Korean waters, so direct links would cut navigation time in half or more.
Semi-official tiesSemi-official ties
A mechanism to inform each other of food-safety problems will also be discussed. Setting up a mechanism to inform each other of food-safety problems in a timely manner was also among the agreements.
The recent scandal over tainted milk products in China badly affected Taiwan, which imports more from China than from any other country apart from Japan. The recent scandal over tainted milk products in China badly affected Taiwan, which imports more from China than from any other country apart from Japan. I'm worried Taiwan will be betrayed by [President] Ma Ying-jeou Lin Ching-shuiProtester, Taipei
I'm worried Taiwan will be betrayed by [President] Ma Ying-jeou Lin Ching-shui
At least three Taiwanese children were made ill by milk products contaminated with the toxic chemical, melamine, and panic among consumers hurt local businesses.At least three Taiwanese children were made ill by milk products contaminated with the toxic chemical, melamine, and panic among consumers hurt local businesses.
Opponents of Mr Chen's visit have urged Taipei to demand compensation for the harm done, but it is unclear whether the hosts will want to risk embarrassing their guest by doing so. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has made improving his country's long-strained ties with Beijing a priority.
The talks come as newly-elected the Taiwanese President, Ma Ying-jeou, has made improving his country's long-strained ties with Beijing a top priority. The last time the two sides held talks was in June in Beijing when Mr Chen, the chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Mr Chiang, head of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), signed agreements launching weekend flights and opening Taiwan to as many as 3,000 Chinese tourists per day.
The last time the two sides held talks was in June in Beijing when Mr Chen, the chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Mr Chiang, head of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), signed agreements launching weekend flights and opening Taiwan to more Chinese tourists.
The two semi-official groups handle negotiations in the absence of formal government-to-government bilateral ties.The two semi-official groups handle negotiations in the absence of formal government-to-government bilateral ties.
Prior to those talks, negotiations had been stalled for nearly a decade. Prior to those talks, negotiations had been stalled for about a decade.
Mass protestsMass protests
On the surface, Mr Chen's visit is focused on economic ties, but many people hope that closer trade and transport links could eventually bring about an end to one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.On the surface, Mr Chen's visit is focused on economic ties, but many people hope that closer trade and transport links could eventually bring about an end to one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.
Thousands have participated in protests against Mr Chen's visit "In the past, relations between the two sides were very hostile," says Kou Chien-wen, a professor at Taipei's National Chengchi University. "This visit shows cross-strait relations are headed toward a direction of conciliation." Thousands have participated in protests against Mr Chen's visit
"In the past, relations between the two sides were very hostile," says Kou Chien-wen, a professor at Taipei's National Chengchi University. "This visit shows cross-strait relations are headed toward a direction of conciliation."
But at the same time, Mr Chen's presence is also raising concerns about whether the island of 23 million people could lose its sovereignty and self-rule.But at the same time, Mr Chen's presence is also raising concerns about whether the island of 23 million people could lose its sovereignty and self-rule.
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has organised a three-day sit-in to protest against the visit. It is expecting tens of thousands to participate. The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) organised a three-day sit-in to protest against the visit.
Opposition to Mr Chen's visit and President Ma's pro-China policies are strong among some parts of Taiwan's population, especially those whose ancestors migrated here when emperors still ruled China and who have little connection to the mainland. On Tuesday night, protesters tried to break through police cordons to enter a hotel where Mr Chen was having dinner with an official from the ruling Kuomintang party. The protest erupted into pushing and shoving, with police armed with shields and batons on the streets near the hotel.
KEY TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION Direct flights and shippingPostal servicesFood safety, after various scares in mainland ChinaFinancial co-operation, in the wake of the global crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7705759.stm">Press hails landmark Taiwan visit class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/04/taiwan_flashpoint/html/introduction.stm">Taiwan flashpoint Opposition to Mr Chen's visit and President Ma's pro-China policies is strong among some parts of Taiwan's population, especially those whose ancestors migrated here when emperors still ruled China, and who have little connection to the mainland.
More recent migrants, who fled here along with the governing Kuomintang party when it was ousted by the Chinese Communist Party, are more open to the idea of unification. However, few want a democratic Taiwan to unify with a one-party state. More recent migrants, who fled here along with the governing Kuomintang party when it was ousted by the Chinese Communist Party, and their offspring are more open to the idea of unification. However, few want a democratic Taiwan to unify with a one-party state.
Two weeks before Mr Chen's arrival on Monday, a mass rally against unification in Taipei drew an estimated 600,000 people, according to the DPP.Two weeks before Mr Chen's arrival on Monday, a mass rally against unification in Taipei drew an estimated 600,000 people, according to the DPP.
Earlier in October, Mr Chen's deputy, Zhang Mingqing, was knocked down by a group of pro-independence activists during a private visit to Taiwan.Earlier in October, Mr Chen's deputy, Zhang Mingqing, was knocked down by a group of pro-independence activists during a private visit to Taiwan.
Security for the Chinese envoy's visit has, as a result, been tight, with 7,000 police deployed on the streets of the capital to ensure order.
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The October attack on a Chinese envoyThe October attack on a Chinese envoy
Individual protesters, however, have managed to unfurl banners calling Chen a "communist bandit" and telling him to "get out". Security for the Chinese envoy's visit has, as a result, been tight, with 7,000 police deployed on the streets of the capital to ensure order.
Individual protesters, however, have managed to unfurl banners calling Mr Chen a "communist bandit" and telling him to "get out".
One pro-independence group has offered a cash reward to protesters who manage to hit him with eggs.One pro-independence group has offered a cash reward to protesters who manage to hit him with eggs.
"The main reason he is here is to use economic means to reach China's goal - unification. It's just like a hook on a fishing line," says Lin Ching-shui, a retired Taipei resident, one of those taking part in the sit-in."The main reason he is here is to use economic means to reach China's goal - unification. It's just like a hook on a fishing line," says Lin Ching-shui, a retired Taipei resident, one of those taking part in the sit-in.
Many young people, who see themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, also participated.Many young people, who see themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, also participated.
"His coming here is not really good for us. China just wants us to be a part of it," says Hsu Wen-chieh, a 21-year-old college student. "We want the whole world to know we are an independent country.""His coming here is not really good for us. China just wants us to be a part of it," says Hsu Wen-chieh, a 21-year-old college student. "We want the whole world to know we are an independent country."
Beijing waryBeijing wary
President Ma has pledged to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and insists the talks will not touch on political issues.President Ma has pledged to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty and insists the talks will not touch on political issues.
Some 7,000 police have been deployed on the streets to ensure order He has also promised to ask China to remove the more than 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan, but it is unclear the issue will be discussed during Mr Chen's visit.
He has also promised to ask China to remove the more than 1,000 missiles targeting Taiwan, but it is unclear whether he will raise the issue during Mr Chen's visit.
Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory, and has threatened to take it back by force if Taiwan formally declares independence.Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory, and has threatened to take it back by force if Taiwan formally declares independence.
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have improved since Mr Ma came to power, but the strong opposition to the talks indicates he may not have an easy time pursuing his pro-China policies, which include opening the island to Chinese investment, and eventually signing a peace accord. Relations between Beijing and Taipei have improved since Mr Ma came to power, but the strong opposition to the talks indicates he may not have an easy time pursuing policies which include opening the island to Chinese investment and eventually signing a peace accord.
"I'm worried Taiwan will be betrayed by Ma Ying-jeou," Mr Lin said."I'm worried Taiwan will be betrayed by Ma Ying-jeou," Mr Lin said.
Despite such concerns, however, the two sides have agreed to hold regular talks, with the next round of negotiations expected to be held in Beijing next year and to focus on financial co-operation as well as protection for Taiwanese investors in China.
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