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| On ] ], ]'s vice chairman ] led a delegation in the first official visit to ] by the highest Kuomintang leader in 60 years. Later, on ] ], a 70-member delegation led by Kuomintang's chairman ] left ] for ] via ], launching ]'s 8-day ] peace tour, also the first official visit by the highest leader of Kuomintang to mainland China in 60 years. | On ] ], ]'s vice chairman ] led a delegation in the first official visit to ] by the highest Kuomintang leader in 60 years. Later, on ] ], a 70-member delegation led by Kuomintang's chairman ] left ] for ] via ], launching ]'s 8-day ] peace tour, also the first official visit by the highest leader of Kuomintang to mainland China in 60 years. | ||
| While in the mainland, Lien met with ] ] and expressed interest in improving ]. They also re-affirmed a belief in "]," which is currently opposed by Taiwan's ruling party, the ] (DPP), and the ] (TSU). | While in the mainland, Lien met with ] ] and expressed interest in improving ]. They also re-affirmed a belief in "]," which is currently opposed by Taiwan's ruling party, the ] (DPP), and the ] (TSU). | ||
| The state media in mainland China unusually covered the entire visit with every single detail and the general public welcomed this delegation. The ] declared public support for Lien's visit, calling it a "step in the right direction for peace in the ]." However, the US has stressed that it would like to see the ] (CPC) have talks with Taiwan's current ruling party, as well as the KMT. Western political analysts have compared the handshake of Lien and Hu Jintao to that of ] and ]. | The state media in mainland China unusually covered the entire visit with every single detail and the general public welcomed this delegation. The ] declared public support for Lien's visit, calling it a "step in the right direction for peace in the ]." However, the US has stressed that it would like to see the ] (CPC) have talks with Taiwan's current ruling party, as well as the KMT. Western political analysts have compared the handshake of Lien and Hu Jintao to that of ] and ]. | ||
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| In Taiwan, public opinion was split. While polls showed that more than half of the people didn't oppose this visit, the ] says the ] is attempting to play a divide-and-conquer game with Taiwan and causing a ] among the Taiwanese. TSU affiliate ] has condemned the visits of Lien and Soong (see below), calling them "]" who want to undermine Taiwan's ]. | In Taiwan, public opinion was split. While polls showed that more than half of the people didn't oppose this visit, the ] says the ] is attempting to play a divide-and-conquer game with Taiwan and causing a ] among the Taiwanese. TSU affiliate ] has condemned the visits of Lien and Soong (see below), calling them "]" who want to undermine Taiwan's ]. | ||
| ROC President ] initially condemned Lien and said that his visit might be in violation of |
] (ROC) President ] initially condemned Lien and said that his visit might be in violation of ROC law. However, several days later Chen Shui-bian reversed his opinions and showed a cautious goodwill gesture to Lien's visit. Chen has also altered his stance on Taiwan independence. During the 2004 Taiwan election he stressed his support for an independent Taiwan, he now says that "both independence and re-unification are options" for Taiwan's future. Political fallout from Lien's trip is believed to have contributed to this change in rhetoric. | ||
| After Lien's visit, the PRC offered three "goodwill gifts" to the ROC: the normalization of ], which would allow direct flights between the two countries; agricultural trade agreements that would increase sales of Taiwan ] to the mainland; and two ]s for the ]. President Chen and the DPP initially declined all three gifts, then decided to accept the pandas conditionally. | After Lien's visit, the PRC offered three "goodwill gifts" to the ROC: the normalization of ], which would allow direct flights between the two countries; agricultural trade agreements that would increase sales of Taiwan ] to the mainland; and two ]s for the ]. President Chen and the DPP initially declined all three gifts, then decided to accept the pandas conditionally. | ||
Revision as of 15:33, 15 October 2005
On March 28 2005, Kuomintang's vice chairman Chiang Pin-kung led a delegation in the first official visit to mainland China by the highest Kuomintang leader in 60 years. Later, on April 26 2005, a 70-member delegation led by Kuomintang's chairman Lien Chan left Taipei for Nanjing via Hong Kong, launching Lien Chan's 8-day Taiwan Strait peace tour, also the first official visit by the highest leader of Kuomintang to mainland China in 60 years.
While in the mainland, Lien met with President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao and expressed interest in improving cross-strait dialogue. They also re-affirmed a belief in "One China, Two Systems," which is currently opposed by Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU).
The state media in mainland China unusually covered the entire visit with every single detail and the general public welcomed this delegation. The United States declared public support for Lien's visit, calling it a "step in the right direction for peace in the Taiwan Strait." However, the US has stressed that it would like to see the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) have talks with Taiwan's current ruling party, as well as the KMT. Western political analysts have compared the handshake of Lien and Hu Jintao to that of Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.
In Taiwan, public opinion was split. While polls showed that more than half of the people didn't oppose this visit, the DPP says the People's Republic of China is attempting to play a divide-and-conquer game with Taiwan and causing a widening schism among the Taiwanese. TSU affiliate Lee Teng-hui has condemned the visits of Lien and Soong (see below), calling them "mainland sympathizers" who want to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty.
Republic of China (ROC) President Chen Shui-bian initially condemned Lien and said that his visit might be in violation of ROC law. However, several days later Chen Shui-bian reversed his opinions and showed a cautious goodwill gesture to Lien's visit. Chen has also altered his stance on Taiwan independence. During the 2004 Taiwan election he stressed his support for an independent Taiwan, he now says that "both independence and re-unification are options" for Taiwan's future. Political fallout from Lien's trip is believed to have contributed to this change in rhetoric.
After Lien's visit, the PRC offered three "goodwill gifts" to the ROC: the normalization of tourism, which would allow direct flights between the two countries; agricultural trade agreements that would increase sales of Taiwan produce to the mainland; and two pandas for the Taipei Zoo. President Chen and the DPP initially declined all three gifts, then decided to accept the pandas conditionally.
James Soong, leader of the People First Party, followed Lien's visit on May 5 with a 9 day visit of his own. Like Lien, Soong also met with President Hu Jintao and expressed an interest in increasing cross-strait dialogue.
After Soong's visit, President Chen extended an invitation to Hu Jintao to visit Taiwan so that he "can see with his own eyes that Taiwan is a sovereign nation." However, the CCP continues to show a lack of interest in dealing with Chen and the DPP.
External links
- EU hopes China-Taiwan talks will widen in scope News article on the European Union's support of Lien's visit
- Lien's triumphal PRC visit may have wide implications Editorial concerning Lien's visit to China and its impact on Taiwan politics
- Gift or hot potato? Taiwan news article on the pandas offered to the Taipei Zoo
- 'Bridge over troubled water' Taiwan news article on Soong's visit to the PRC
- Farmers interested in exports to China Taiwan news article on the agricultural trade deal offered by mainland China
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