CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

Since the government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, it has exercised jurisdiction over Taiwan proper, Penghu Islands, Kinmen Islands, Matsu Islands and a number of smaller islands, while China has been under the control of the authorities in Beijing. Beginning with the acceleration of Taiwan’s democratization in the late 1980s, many restrictions concerning civil exchanges with China have been lifted. Today, Taiwan is one of the biggest investors in China. Between 1991 and the end of December 2022, approved investment in China comprised 45,195 cases totaling US$203.33 billion. In 2022, the value of cross-strait trade was US$205.11 billion.

In June 2008, institutionalized talks between Taiwan’s semiofficial Straits Exchange Foundation and China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits resumed after a 10-year hiatus. By August 2015, 11 rounds of negotiations had been held alternately on either side of the Taiwan Strait, producing 23 formal agreements, of which 21 have come into effect, and two consensuses. Most significant among the accords is the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement concluded in June 2010, which aims to institutionalize trade and economic relations between Taiwan and China.

In order to promote thorough domestic reforms, the country requires a peaceful and stable external environment, especially with regard to relations with China. President Tsai Ing-wen, since taking office May 20, 2016, and following her reelection in 2020, has worked to build a consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship based on existing realities and political foundations.

The government’s unchanged position is to maintain the cross-strait status quo. This is Taiwan’s commitment to the region and the world. Peace, prosperity and development in Asia are common responsibilities of all countries in the region. Therefore, cross-strait issues are connected to regional peace. Taiwan will fulfill its responsibilities of safeguarding regional security by continuing to extend goodwill and maintaining stable, consistent and predictable cross-strait relations.

In recent years, however, China has set political preconditions for cross-strait exchanges, unilaterally suspended official interactions, and continuously exerted political suppression and military coercion on Taiwan. On Jan. 2, 2019, China proposed exploration of the “one country, two systems” model for Taiwan, disrupting the status quo of regional peace and stability. In the face of China’s increasingly aggressive political agenda, President Tsai put forth guidelines March 11, 2019, aimed at strengthening national security measures, safeguarding national sovereignty and ensuring current and future generations have the right to decide Taiwan’s future. The Legislature also passed the Anti-Infiltration Act, which took effect on Jan. 15, 2020.

In 2022, Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan, and the following year President Tsai met with the subsequent House speaker, Kevin McCarthy. In the wake of both events, the Chinese authorities ramped up pressure on Taiwan through intensified political interference and military threats along with economic coercion and other gray zone tactics.

In light of geopolitical tensions, the government has been updating the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. Amendments passed to date have established an oversight mechanism for cross-strait political agreements and adjusted fines for unauthorized Chinese investment. Articles were also amended to tighten restrictions on travel to China by anyone who possesses or has access to key national security-related technologies and was commissioned by or received a research grant from the government, as well as to strengthen regulations preventing Chinese enterprises from conducting unpermitted business activities in Taiwan via third party investment.

As part of Taiwan’s COVID-19 pandemic response, the government implemented border restrictions on Chinese citizens entering Taiwan. These measures have since been relaxed to address humanitarian concerns, industrial needs and education rights, allowing Chinese citizens to come to Taiwan for family visits, to comply with contractual business obligations as part of internal personnel transfers within multinational enterprises, and to attend academic exchange or degree programs in Taiwan. Moving forward, the government will continue to review and adjust its policies in accordance with the latest international, regional and cross-strait developments.

The government will consider the development of the cross-strait situation in accordance with the principles and directions of President Tsai’s cross-strait policy. It will listen to voices from all sectors of society, strengthen management mechanisms for cross-strait exchanges, improve democracy and security defense mechanisms and coordinate with the relevant authorities to conduct amendments of laws and regulations when necessary. This is intended to promote positive cross-strait interactions and maintain normal and orderly exchanges between the two sides.

The government will continue to address cross-strait ties based on the ROC Constitution, the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, and the will of the people.

In addition, the government calls upon the authorities in China to face up to the reality that the ROC exists and that the people of Taiwan have an unshakable faith in the democratic system. President Tsai presented the “four commitments” on her National Day address in 2021, namely the commitment to a free and democratic constitutional system, the commitment that the ROC and the PRC should not be subordinate to each other, the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty, and the commitment that the future of the ROC (Taiwan) must be decided in accordance with the will of the Taiwan people. These commitments are supported by the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and represent the bottom line we are determined to safeguard.

In her National Day address on Oct. 10, 2022, President Tsai emphasized the need to enhance Taiwan’s resilience in the four key areas of economy and industry, social safety net, free and democratic governance, and national defense in order to strengthen the country’s ability to safeguard freedom and democracy at home and abroad.

China is encouraged to embrace President Tsai’s call for “peace, parity, democracy and dialogue,” thus fostering positive interactions that truly serve the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. As long as the Beijing authorities are willing to resolve cross-strait antagonism and improve cross-strait relations, Taiwan is willing to jointly promote meaningful dialogue on the basis of parity and dignity. Taiwan also looks forward to the gradual resumption of normal and orderly exchanges between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait when the pandemic is brought under control. Lastly, the government will continue deepening cooperation with the U.S., Japan and other like-minded countries to counter China’s threats to Taiwan, promote regional peace, stability and prosperity, and protect the nation’s interests.