Taiwan to open doors wider to China next year

December 1, 2000
Web posted at: 12:53 PM HKT (0453 GMT)

TAIPEI (Reuters) -- Taiwan said on Friday it will open its doors wider to China next year despite simmering political tensions, allowing Chinese tourists to visit followed by an easing of a decades-old ban on direct trade and transport links.

Han Kun, deputy director of the National Security Bureau, told reporters that Chinese can visit Taiwan for sightseeing trips from June next year. He did not give further details.

Currently, mainland Chinese are restricted to visiting relatives on the island or for cultural and educational exchanges. Applications are scrutinised on a case-by-case basis.

Chinese have made about 540,000 trips to Taiwan since rapprochement began in 1988.

The liberalisation measure is part of efforts by Taipei to assuage and reconcile Beijing, which is still deeply suspicious of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's pro-independence past and has threatened to invade if the island declared statehood.

Han also said Taiwan will complete before December 15 preparations for the trade and transport ban to be eased between Taiwan-held offshore islands and designated mainland Chinese port cities.

Trade, transport and postal links between Taiwan proper and designated Chinese cities would be allowed after June next year, Han added.

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