Beijing’s Taiwan affairs chief pledges cross-strait exchanges, as island warns of mainland charm offensive

Name: Taiwan confirms President Tsai Ing-wen will make US stopovers in coming weeks
Uploaded: 2023-03-22T10:00:27.000Z
Duration: 2 min 29 s
Description: Taiwan confirms President Tsai Ing-wen will make US stopovers in coming weeks

Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, tells Taipei-based chamber of commerce he is happy to exchange views on relations and peace

Taiwan’s top cross-strait policy planner says Beijing seeks ‘to push for cross-strait integration by promoting civilian exchanges’

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Beijing’s chief of Taiwan affairs, Song Tao, has told a visiting Taiwanese chamber of commerce he is happy to discuss with them ways to develop ties and keep peace. Photo: Getty Images

Lawrence Chungin Taipei

Published: 6:00pm, 22 Mar 2023

Mainland China’s top official on Taiwan affairs told a business delegation from the self-ruled island he will promote cross-strait exchanges in what is seen as stepped-up efforts by Beijing to woo Taiwanese and push for unification.

Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, also told the delegation he was happy to exchange views with the group on how the two sides could develop relations and maintain peace.

Song made the comments during a reception for the Taipei-based General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China – Taiwan’s official title – in Beijing on Tuesday night – his first event with a heavyweight business group from Taiwan since he took office in December.

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“Compatriots of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are from one family,” Song said, adding that the mainland authorities would seek to “maintain cross-strait peace, development, exchanges and cooperation” in view of the demands of Taiwanese people.

Cross-strait exchanges used to be frequent during Ma Ying-jeou’s time as president between 2008 and 2016 but have been largely put on hold since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party became the island’s leader in 2016.

Beijing suspended official contact and exchanges with Taipei after Tsai became president and she refused to accept the one-China principle.

Paul Hsu, chairman of the Taipei-based chamber, said cross-strait exchanges, especially in trade and business, had occurred for years and it was unlikely all such activities would suddenly stop given that more than 40 per cent of Taiwan’s total exports were bound for the mainland.

He said he hoped the visit could help normal business activities resume.