January 24, 2003
MAC Department of Research and Planning Director Jan Jyr-horng tells the media that both sides of the Strait signed an agreement in 1991 making the SEF and the ARATS, the "civilian intermediate organizations," to represent both parties in cross-Strait negotiations. Now that both sides have a common concern, which is the issue on the "direct transportation links," it is best that they resume institutionalized negotiations through this channel.
February 14, 2003
The Institute of East Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore says that it has invited Koo Chen-fu and Wang Daohan, the high-level representatives to the cross-Strait talks, to the historic meeting in Singapore on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Koo-Wang talks.
February 18, 2003
The SEF writes the Mainland's ARATS calling on the Mainland side to work together to prevent the worsening of travel conflicts, which involves the safety of people's lives and material possession, in accordance with the previous consensus between both parties, in order to guarantee the interests of Taiwanese travelers.
March 25, 2003
In an address at the 2nd joint conference of the SEF's 5th Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors, Chairman Koo Chen-foo points out that this year is the 10th anniversary of the "Koo-Wang Talks." However, it is regrettable that the SEF and the ARATS are not able to operate normally due to recent political conflicts between both sides of the Strait.
March 26, 2003
In a regular press conference, the Mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Zhang Mingqing reiterates that the bases for the resumption of cross-Strait talks are the principle of "One China" and the "1992 Consensus," and that talking about resuming contact between both parties is not realistic as long as Taiwan authorities do not acknowledge the "1992 Consensus."
April 16, 2003
At a ceremony conferring on him an honorary doctorate degree in Japan's Waseda University, SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu says in his speech entitled "Prospects in Japan-Taiwan and Cross-Strait Relations in the New Era" that the "one China" with respective interpretations achieved at the Hong Kong meeting between both sides of the Strait in 1992 should not be a "bilateral consensus" but an "accord."
April 26, 2003
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the "Koo-Wang Talks," prepared activities are cancelled due to the serious epidemic of SARS in Beijing. Chen Yunlin, Director of the Mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office; Wang Daohan, ARATS Chairman; and Tang Jiaxuan, Councilor, release memorial articles respectively.
April 29, 2003
In order to prevent the further spread of SARS, the SEF cancels the activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Koo-Wang talks. Chairman Koo Chen-fu and MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen issue written statements instead to convey their messages.
May 23, 2003
The Mainland's ARATS sends a fax to the SEF stating that the Mainland intends to donate medical facilities such as ambulances to Taiwan, and wishes to send experts and medical personnel with rich clinical experience to Taiwan to exchange knowledge of disease prevention, to study treatment procedures, and to join in the work of disease prevention in Taiwan.
May 25, 2003
With regard to the Mainland ARATS's letter stating intention to donate to Taiwan medical resources for the prevention of SARS, the SEF politely refuses through a formal letter explaining that the resources in Taiwan are "sufficient." The SEF also urges the ARATS to positively regard Taiwan's need to participate in the World Health Organization.
July 2, 2003
SEF Deputy Secretary-General Jan Jyh-horng calls on the Mainland to step up its efforts to improve its peace and order situation and to negotiate as soon as possible with Taiwan on how to guarantee the lives and material possessions of Taiwanese businessmen in the Mainland. Otherwise, the safety of the lives of the Taiwanese businessmen will continue to be threatened, which will be disadvantageous to the development of cross-Strait trade and economic relations.
July 17, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS concerning the five Taiwanese fishing vessels forcefully detained by the Mainland Public Security personnel in Shenao Port on Nanao Island in Guangdong Province, and demands the protection of the rights of Taiwanese fishermen.
August 26, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS to provide details on the drowning incident of 22 Mainland female stowaways trying to enter Taiwan. Six of them died, and four of them were missing. The ARATS has been requested to notify their family members in the Mainland.
August 27, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS to provide the list of eight stowaways who survived the drowning incident, and to request the ARATS to relay the information to their family members in the Mainland.
August 29, 2003
The ARATS writes the SEF requesting for the proper arrangements for and treatment of the survivors, and for the speedy investigation and punishment of the criminals. The SEF is also being requested to provide the list of people who died, any information on the investigations, and any hints for the solution of the case. The SEF sends related information concerning the six stowaways who died during the incident to the ARATS, and requests assistance for the investigation of their identities and for the notification of their family members. The SEF also expresses that it will render the necessary assistance to enable the family members to come to Taiwan to handle the funeral matters.
September 1, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS to request its assistance in coordinating with the agencies concerned to provide background information concerning the parties involved in the smuggling of the Mainland stowaways, to enable both sides of the Strait to fight against crime together.
September 8, 2003
In a letter to the ARATS, the SEF asks the ARATS to relay the latest information concerning the six Mainland victims of the drowning incident to the Mainland's relevant agencies and officials for speedy identification, in order to notify the victims, family members to handle funeral matters.
September 8, 2003
The ARATS responds to the SEF expressing its hope for the SEF to expeditiously assist the family members of the victims in proceeding to Taiwan to handle funeral matters. The Mainland side has confirmed the identity of four of the victims.
September 11, 2003
The ARATS writes to the SEF providing information about the four Taiwanese citizens allegedly involved in the drowning incident and who have been arrested in the Mainland, and expresses its hope for the Taiwan side to provide information about the five Mainland people allegedly involved and arrested in Taiwan, and information about their participation in the planning and the implementation of the crime and the specific details about the illegal entry into Taiwan by the rescued 20 Mainland female stowaways.
September 12, 2003
The SEF responds to the ARATS requesting for the relay of information to the family members of the victims about the required documents for the processing of their entry papers to Taiwan, and also inviting an ARATS official to accompany and assist the family members during their trip to Taiwan. The four alleged suspects arrested in Taiwan are Taiwanese citizens, contrary to the statement of the Mainland that they are from the Mainland. The SEF also requests the ARATS for assistance in providing information about the investigation of the alleged suspects arrested in the Mainland, to enable both sides of the Strait to fight against crime together.
September 12, 2003
The ARATS writes the SEF to inform that a total of seven family members of four of the victims are taking the flight to Taiwan on September 15 and 16 to handle funeral matters, and to request for SEF personnel to assist them during their stopover in Hong Kong and in handling related matters.
September 14, 2003
Coast Guard Administration officer Chiang Shao-nan was abducted by Mainland fishermen fishing illegally in Taiwan's territorial waters. The SEF writes the ARATS to request assistance in ensuring the personal safety of Chiang, and to arrange for the early repatriation of Chiang and to return his arms, as well as to investigate the case and punish the offenders.
September 15, 2003
Coast Guard Administration officer Chiang Shao-nan was abducted by Mainland fishermen to Fuzhou. After coordination between the SEF and the ARATS, the SEF confirms that Chiang will be repatriated to Matsu via the "Mini-Three-Links" route. SEF Deputy-Secretary General Jan Jyr-horng states that aside from demanding for the return of the person, the Taiwan side has also requested that the Mainland return the firearms and ammunition at the same time, as well as punish the abductors.
September 22, 2003
The ARATS writes the SEF to notify that the family members of four of the victims have returned safely in the Mainland and to express gratitude over the assistance rendered by the SEF and other agencies concerned to the family members in handling the funeral matters of the victims.
September 23, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS to request assistance in providing information about the investigation about the people allegedly involved in the case and arrested by the Mainland authorities, to enable both sides of the Strait to fight against crime together.
September 23, 2003
At the 5th joint meeting of the Board of Directors and Supervisors of the SEF, Chairperson Koo Chen-fu emphasizes in his address that although both sides of the Strait hold differing political positions, the frequent cross-Strait exchanges have become a trend. Both sides should maintain tolerance and understanding, as well as resume the normal channels of communication and reopen negotiations on a full scale as soon as possible. At the same time, they should pragmatically handle the problems arising from the exchanges, in order to establish cross-Strait harmony.
October 21, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS explaining that Chu An-hsiung is wanted for bribery and requesting for assistance in his arrest and repatriation. This is beneficial to the joint fight of both sides of the Strait against crime.
October 24, 2003
The ARATS writes the Cross-Strait General Public Service Center regarding the reckless shooting by Taiwan's police officers at Mainland fishermen engaged in fish breeding because the incident has caused personal injury and material loss.
November 5, 2003
After receiving a report about the murder of Ho Chin-sheng, a Taiwanese businessman in Guangdong Province in the Mainland, the SEF immediately renders assistance to the family members of the victim in processing the necessary documents to enable them to proceed to the Mainland to handle funeral matters. The SEF also writes the ARATS to contact the agencies concerned right away to go after the criminals and bring them to justice. In connection with this, the SEF urges the Mainland authorities once again with regard to the urgent message sent on the same day to the ARATS seeking assistance in the expeditious coordination with the agencies concerned to go after the criminals and bring them to justice. The Mainland authorities should pay attention to the peace and order issue in order to guarantee the personal safety of the Taiwanese businessmen in the Mainland.
November 18, 2003
The SEF expresses its deep regrets over the cancellation of the permit of the delegation composed of members of the Association of Chinese Notaries to visit Taiwan and the order for them to depart Taiwan on the same day by the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of the Interior, due to the failure of the delegation to follow the agreed itinerary during their stay in Taiwan to engage in a forum and exchange views with the SEF on related issues about document notarization matters.
November 27, 2003
The SEF writes the ARATS pointing out that it has been authorized by Taiwan's high authorities to engage in the negotiations with the proper Mailand agencies for handling the preparations for the indirect chartered flights during the Lunar New Year Holidays for the Taiwanese businessmen. The SEF urges the ARATS to respond as soon as possible whether both parties could negotiate and make further arrangements that conform to mutual expectations, so that appropriate arrangements could be made.
November 27, 2003
SEF Chairman Dr. Koo Chen-fu issues a statement on the chartered flights for the Lunar New Year Holidays, expressing that acting as the windows for the agreements and dialogue between both sides of the Strait, the SEF and the ARATS have a unique responsibility to promote positive cross-Strait interactions and to enhance the welfare of the peoples on both sides of the Strait. We are willing to invite the Mainland's ARATS for negotiations based on the existing foundations, and hoping that the Mainland side will make a positive response as soon as possible, to enable us to make the subsequent arrangements.
December 10, 2003
The MAC authorized the SEF a few days ago to write the ARATS proposing that negotiations be conducted on the "two-way" chartered flights during the Lunar New Year Holidays for Taiwanese businessmen next year. The ARATS responded by phone to the SEF saying that "this matter will be negotiated between the carriers of both sides." However, the Government hopes that the Mainland side will make a formal response to this matter.
December 25, 2003
SEF Chairman, Dr. Koo Chen-Fu, emphasizes that the SEF and the ARATS are the most appropriate existing channels for communication and negotiations between both sides of the Strait. Since the end of August this year, the SEF and the ARATS have been keeping contact and making consultations with each other on several unexpected incidents leading to the proper management of these cases, which have re-affirmed the functions of both agencies. It is hoped that both agencies will normalize their contacts next year and contribute more for the development of cross-Strait relations.