Success of Beijing envoy's visit to Taiwan shows 'attitudes warming'

The visit to Taiwan by top envoy Chen Deming has shown Beijing's policy in dealing with the island has largely been successful, with a marked reduction in deep-seated hostility towards the mainland.

Leading a 70-member strong delegation of mainland officials and business leaders, Chen arrived in Taiwan on November 26 for an eight-day visit. It was his first as the head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, which handles contacts with the island in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

"To see and learn is the major purpose of my visit, which will be limited to the private sector and the development of Taiwan's free-economic pilot zones," Chen told journalists on the eve of his departure for Taiwan.

He steered clear of speculation he would pressure the government of the island's president, Ma Ying-jeou, to ensure the legislature pass a cross-strait service trade agreement during his trip. Chen also said he was ready to face protests throughout his visit and was "psychologically prepared to hear different voices". Several civic and pro-independence groups had announced plans to stage a handful of protests to voice opposition to the trade service pact signed by Taipei and Beijing in June, which has yet to be approved by the legislature. They called it a malicious agreement that would be harmful to Taiwan's interests.

Chen's arrival came three days after the mainland ratcheted up regional tensions by announcing the creation of an air defence identification zone in the East China Sea. The zone not only overlaps the airspace monitored by Taiwan and South Korea, but also includes the disputed Diaoyu Islands, which are claimed by Taiwan and Japan, which calls them the Senkakus.

Pro-independence supporters in Taiwan were enraged, viewing the zone as a violation of the island's sovereignty.