January 3, 2007
The Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs issues a press release entitled "Foreign-invested Enterprises Promote Economic Growth in Mainland China." The press release indicates that China's economy has risen rapidly in recent years, making China one of the world's major markets for absorbing raw materials, parts and components. However, Chinese products are steadily increasing share in major international markets. Moreover, China is upgrading its export items from clothing and other traditional products to electronics and other products with higher levels of technology. This trend has exerted a considerable squeezing-out effect on the products of Taiwan and other countries.
January 8, 2007
Responsible persons of the Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA) indicate that the CTEA and Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (TSTA) have held a third round of technical discussions on issues related to the opening up of tourism in Taiwan for Chinese tourists.
January 12, 2007
MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu states that the MAC has contacted officials of China's Taiwan Affairs Office by phone regarding the fleeing of Rebar Group founder Wang You-theng to China. The MAC also informed the Chinese side that this case would likely give the Taiwanese people a negative impression of China. It is therefore hoped that China can repatriate Wang and his wife. However, China's position on this matter is still unclear at this time.
January 12, 2007
The Fujian Chaoda Modern Agriculture Group, the Beijing Fruit Company and Shanghai Fruit Company under the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, and other Chinese enterprises signed an agreement in Beijing with Taiwan's Yunlin County Farmer's Association and Taiwan Fruit Marketing Cooperative for the emergency purchase of unsalable oranges from Taiwan. Under the agreement, China will purchase 1,200 tons of oranges from Taiwan.
January 15, 2007
The Taiwan Taipei District Prosecutors Office issues an order for the arrest of Rebar Group founder Wang You-theng and his wife Wang Chin Shyh-ying on suspicion of violating the Securities and Exchange Act. The MAC has asked the Straits Exchange Foundation to send a letter notifying China of this matter. The Chinese authorities have also been requested to actively coordinate with the investigation by Taiwan's judiciary and to assist in gathering related evidence.
January 19, 2007
The National Tax Administration of Northern Taiwan Province under the Ministry of Finance indicates that the fees paid by taxpayers and their spouse or dependents for medical treatment in China can be deducted from their income tax in the same year. To apply for the deduction, the filer must present a certificate issued by the public hospitals, the hospitals having the status of a juridical person, and public/private university-affiliated hospital in China rendering the medical services. This certificate must be authenticated by the institution or civilian organization stipulated in Article 7 of the "Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area."
January 19, 2007
The Investment Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs issues a press release stating that 1,090 China-bound investments from Taiwan were approved in 2006, representing a decline of 15.96 percent from the year before. The total value of the approved investments was US$7.64 billion, an increase of 27.22 percent as compared to the same period of last year. These figures indicate that investments in China by Taiwanese enterprises are growing in size.
January 25, 2007
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicates that Taiwan is now China's seventh-largest trade partner, seventh-biggest export market, fifth biggest source of imports, and largest source of trade deficit. China is Taiwan's biggest trade partner, biggest export market, and biggest source of trade surplus.
January 25, 2007
Public security agencies in China, acting on the basis of the "Kinmen Accord," repatriate back to Taiwan wanted criminal Lee Han-yang and suspected accomplice Lee Chin-tsan who have been involved in an armored vehicle robbery case.
January 29, 2007
Responsible persons of the Beijing-based Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA) state that the CTEA and Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (TSTA) have engaged in the fourth round of technical discussions on matters related to the opening up of tourism in Taiwan for Chinese tourists. Both sides have extensively exchanged views on various issues and have reached consensus in many aspects.
January 31, 2007
China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Yang Yi indicates at a TAO press conference that since the signing of the "Kinmen Accord," the Red Cross Societies across the Taiwan Strait have conducted 286 repatriations. A total of 37,790 persons from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been repatriated, including 266 individuals, criminal suspects, and wanted criminals who illegally enter China from Taiwan.
February 1, 2007
China's Ministry of Commerce announces that it is starting an anti-dumping interim review on imported ethanolamine originating from Japan and Taiwan.
February 1, 2007
Xiamen enacts the "Preparatory Program for Sudden Emergency Incidents in the Sea Area of Xiamen," which will be effective on February 1, 2007. The preparatory program is applicable to the handling of sea search and rescue and supervision and management work related to the sea transportation security of vessels in the Taiwan Area.
February 2, 2007
Ge Zhirong, deputy director-general of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) states that the AQSIQ will vigorously support development of Fujian's small-scale trade with Taiwan and implement a more flexible and highly efficient inspection, quarantine and supervision system for such trade. Hereafter, a system of "same day shipment, and next morning marketing" will be adopted for small-volume Taiwanese fruit exports.
February 5, 2007
China's Taiwan Affairs Office and other related units hold talks with the Taiwanese delegation of the "Cross-Strait Health Exchange Association" led by Huang Min-ho. The two sides discuss issues such as establishing a convenient model to deal with cross-strait healthcare-related tourism activities, applicable regulations governing the treatment of serious illnesses and organ transplants involving peoples across the Strait, investment and cooperation in medical tourism, medical insurance applicability on both sides of the Strait, and measures for Taiwanese doctors practicing medicine in China.
February 7, 2007
Ye Shuangyu, vice governor of Fujian Province, states that in 2007, Fujian will accelerate promotion of establishing markets for the small-volume trade of Taiwan goods in Putian and Meizhou Island, Sansha Harbor in Ningde, and Mawei, Fuzhou. It will also further expand trade between Fujian and Taiwan.
February 8, 2007
Attending the "Shanghai-Taiwan Civilian Exchange Forum," He Zhijun, deputy director of the Bureau of Cross-Straits Exchanges at the Taiwan Affairs Office states that to ensure the speedy implementation of cross-strait tourism activities and enable Chinese compatriots to travel to Taiwan as soon as possible, excessive demands should not be made on some technical details. He also expresses hope that charter flights and tourism can be integrated to facilitate visits once the Chinese tourists are allowed to travel to Taiwan for sightseeing. This would also provide more space for the future development of cross-strait tourism.
February 13, 2007
The 2007 Lunar New Year charter flights begin (marking the fourth year of such flights). From February 13 to 26, there will be a total of 96 flights serving the flight points of Taipei, Kaohsiung, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen.
March 1, 2007
He Shizhong, director of the Economic Affairs Bureau under China's Taiwan Affairs Office, leads a 16-member delegation, including several high-ranking economic and trade commission and banking officials, on a one-week inspection tour of Taiwan at the invitation of the Chinese National Federation of Industries.
March 2, 2007
The Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Transportation and Communications jointly promulgate the revised "Permit Regulations Governing the Sightseeing Activities in Taiwan by Chinese Tourists."
March 2, 2007
The Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs agrees to lift restrictions on imports of 20 types of goods from China.
March 8, 2007
Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chang Chun-hsiung states that Sun Chi-ming, director of the SEF's Department of Travel Services, went to Chengdu earlier March this year to attend the 10th Cross-Strait Travel Industry Social.
March 21, 2007
MAC Chairman Jaushieh Joseph Wu states that Taiwan is now conducting negotiations with China on the opening up of tourism in Taiwan for Chinese tourists. Both sides have engaged in five technical discussions and another such discussion will be conducted.
March 23, 2007
Accompanying a group of Taiwanese journalists to Hong Kong to observe the electoral process of the Third-Term Chief Executive Election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, James Chih-yu Chang, senior executive officer of the MAC's Department of Information and Liaison, is refused entry by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
March 26, 2007
The Ministry of Education briefs a MAC council meeting on approval of the registration of the Shanghai Taiwanese Children School.
March 29, 2007
MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu indicates that with regard to the development of opening up cross-strait tourism, both sides are still promoting the open-door policy through negotiations. He emphasizes that China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) has never acted as the counterpart agency for negotiating the issue of opening up tourism in Taiwan for Chinese tourists; therefore, Taiwan will not make detailed response to the TAO's statement on this issue.
April 4, 2007
By an Executive Yuan order, a part of Article 10 of the "Regulations Governing the Trial Operation of Transportation Links Between Kinmen/Matsu and the Mainland Area" is revised as follows: Any person of the Taiwan Area who has a household registration in Kinmen, Matsu or Penghu for more than six months may apply to the Service Post in Kinmen, Matsu or Penghu established by the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior for an entry/exit permit and may enter or exit the Mainland Area via Kinmen or Matsu after the said permit is verified.
April 6, 2007
Fujian's Meizhou Island Tourism Association and the Kinmen County Tourism Development Association sign a letter of intent on tourism, economic and trade cooperation. Both sides will also promote holiday and regular direct passenger sea links between Kinmen and Meizhou Island.
April 9, 2007
The Executive Yuan announces the appointment of National Taiwan University professor Chen Ming-tong as chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council.
April 12, 2007
The Taipei National Tax Administration, Ministry of Finance, states that taxpayers and their spouses or dependents that seek medical treatment in China for an illness may deduct the full amount of medical fees paid to a Chinese Hospital for such treatment with certification issued by the treating public hospital, private hospital or hospital established under a public or private university in China and authenticated by the institution set up or designated, or by the private organization entrusted by the Executive Yuan as stipulated in Article 7 of the "Act Governing Relations between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and Mainland Area."
April 13, 2007
At a press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu states that the invitation extended to the Kaohsiung City mayor to attend an international conference in China will be handled in accordance with the "Act Governing Relations between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" and other relevant regulations. He also stated that the MAC would uphold the principle that Taiwan's sovereignty should not be downgraded in dealing with the torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
April 16, 2007
China officially establishes the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland (ATIEM). Director Chen Yunlin of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office is appointed as honorary chairman of the association and Dongguan Taiwanese Businessmen's Association President Chang Han-wen is elected as the first association chairman. Several officials of State Council ministries and commissions serve as vice chairmen and advisors in the association.
April 20, 2007
At a press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu states that the plan of the Olympic torch relay route must be arranged based on the principles of abiding by Olympic protocol, obtaining the approval of the Taiwanese government, not dwarfing Taiwan's sovereignty, and facilitating benign cross-strait interactions.
April 25, 2007
Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Secretary-General Chang Shu-ti emphasizes in a speech on "Meeting Activities of Central Taiwan!|s China-bound Enterprises" that the SEF has established a Service Center for Taiwanese Businessmen and "Financial and Legal Advisory Group for Taiwanese Businessmen" to provide Taiwanese businesspeople with professional business advice, liaison, safety and emergency rescue, and economic and trade dispute settlement services. Taiwanese businesspeople are welcome to contact the SEF at any time. The foundation will also reflect the views of the Taiwanese businesspeople to relevant government agencies at suitable times and jointly promote various government services for Taiwanese businesspeople.
April 26, 2007
Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Secretary General Michael You states that although the political and legal systems of both sides of the Taiwan Strait are widely divergent, the two sides are consistent in their basic positions on jointly cracking down on crime to safeguard the security and welfare of the public. He hopes that both sides can put aside their political differences and cooperate to jointly protect the welfare of the people on both sides.
May 1, 2007
A Hong Kong tour group was involved in a bus accident in the Alishan area in Chiayi County on April 30, 2007. This resulted in the hospitalization of three Hong Kong visitors. The MAC notifies its Hong Kong office (Chung Hwa Travel Service) to contact the relevant government authorities in Hong Kong and the families of the injured.
May 4, 2007
The National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior revises the "Regulations Governing the Trial Operation of Transportation Links Between Kinmen/Matsu and the Mainland Area."
May 9, 2007
The National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior revises the "Summarized Instructions for Hong Kong and Macao Residents Applying for Temporary Entry and Residence in Taiwan."
May 10, 2007
Fujian Tourism Administration Vice Director Chen Yangbiao leads a delegation to inspect tourist spots in Penghu. He also meets with Penghu County Magistrate Wang Chien-fa.
May 14, 2007
The Taiwan Compatriot Investment Enterprises Association of Nanping is established in Wuyishan, Fujian Province. It is the 100th Chinese chapter of the association. Wang Li, chairman of Nanping Fushan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., was elected as president of the new chapter.
May 15, 2007
A ceremony for the opening of direct cargo shipping links between Fuzhou and Penghu is held in Fuzhou City, Lienchiang County. It is the first direct cargo link between the coastal area of Fujian and Penghu.
May 18, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates in a press release that, in April 2007, 62 China-bound investments with a total value of US$553.988 million were granted. In the first four months of 2007, there were 320 approved China-bound investments with a total value of US$2,634,399,000. These amounts are up 2.56% and 22.10%, respectively, from the same period of 2006.
May 18, 2007
The Ninth Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Fair and Fourth China (Fujian) Commodities Fair commence in Fuzhou.
May 20, 2007
In a meeting with leaders from Taiwan's media industry, Taiwan Affairs Office Director Chen Yunlin reiterates that China and Taiwan have held technical discussions five times with a vision of opening Taiwan to Chinese tourists. However, responsible authorities in Taiwan have not yet replied to the proposals raised by China. Chen emphasizes that Taiwan should take the responsibility for preventing progress in this regard.
May 22, 2007
Regarding the solicitation of business in Taiwan by Chinese securities firms, Wu Hsueh-yen, deputy director of the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, states that according to related regulations, Chinese people coming to Taiwan must truthfully state the purpose of their visit. If the activities of their itinerary are inconsistent with the purpose stated at the time of application, the government may, in the most serious cases, demand that such activities stop.
May 30, 2007
According to a report by the China News Service, Fujian Province authorities have sent eight Taiwanese criminals and criminal suspects back to Taiwan via Matsu, in accordance with the "Kinmen Accord."
June 2, 2007
Commercial and industrial agencies in nearly 20 provinces and areas of China including Beijing, Tianjin, and Liaoning will further investigate and deal with China's infringement of Taiwanese fruit trademarks and regulate commercial order at Taiwanese fruit markets.
June 8, 2007
The Public Security Department of Fujian Province states at a press conference that Fujian has uncovered and arrested 18 drug smuggling operations with Taiwanese involvement since last year. A total of 31 Taiwanese suspects were arrested for drug smuggling and 357.87 kilograms of various types of drugs were seized in these cases.
June 11, 2007
A 115-person delegation led by Wang Meixiang, vice governor of China's Fujian Province, visits Penghu via the "Mini-Three-Links" route in Kinmen.
June 11, 2007
Cross-strait charter flights during the Dragon Boat Festival period are scheduled to begin on June 12.
June 12, 2007
The National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior issues a press release stating that, starting in 2008, Chinese spouses applying for permanent residency in the Taiwan Area will need to include a newly revised certificate of financial ability in their application.
June 13, 2007
A delegation from the China News Service arrives in Taiwan for engaging in visits and exchange activities.
June 17, 2007
Taiwan participates in the Prague Quadrennial under its national name. China, which has a longer history of membership than Taiwan in the event, subsequently withdrew from participation.
June 17, 2007
The Department of Labor and Social Security of Fujian Province announces that it will expand the number of occupations in which Taiwanese people can take occupational skill examinations from six to 26.
June 25, 2007
The Investment Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs issues a press release stating that 420 China-bound investments from Taiwan were approved in the first five months of 2007, representing a decline of 1.41% from the same period a year before. The total value of the approved investments was US$316.549 million, an increase of 8.02% over the same period in 2006.
June 26, 2007
The Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs announces six additional types of Chinese products that may be imported to Taiwan: tubes and pipes of copper-nickel base alloys, PCI audio interfaces, USB MIDI interfaces, guitar recording interfaces, mobile recording interfaces, and rotary encoders.
June 29, 2007
Li Bingcai, executive deputy chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, states that as of April 2007, Taiwanese residents had made more than 43.80 million person-trips to China. Moreover, in the first quarter of 2007, total indirect cross-strait trade amounted to 629.52 billion renminbi.
July 1, 2007
The Second Cross-Strait (Gulang Island) Forum on Traditional Chinese Medicine Development and Cooperation opens in Xiamen. The forum is attended by 65 Taiwanese representatives and over 100 Chinese representatives of the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
July 2, 2007
The Department of Health issues a press release urging the public to temporarily suspend usage of Chinese toothpaste containing diethylene glycol.
July 6, 2007
At a regular press briefing, MAC Spokesperson Johnnason Liu indicates that the MAC presently does not allow the banking industry to invest in Chinese banks in the Mainland.
July 6, 2007
120 people from Taiwan take part in physician qualification examinations in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
July 7, 2007
At the Cross-Strait Notary Seminar, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Chairman Michael Y.L. You states that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can build a non-controversial notary service platform to jointly assist people on both sides in handling questions regarding the use of notarized documents.
July 8, 2007
Over 1,000 students from 92 Taiwanese universities took part in the 2007 Summer Camp for One Thousand Taiwan Compatriots held in Beijing by the Chinese government's All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.
July 12, 2007
The MAC highly affirms and blesses the appointment of Hong Chi-chang as the new chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation. The council also hopes to coordinate closely with Chairman Hong and work jointly to create a new win-win situation for cross-strait peace.
July 14, 2007
At a regular press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu indicates that on August 1, 2007, Taiwan will begin handling Chinese applications to visit Taiwan for five types of medical treatment, including liver transplants. The project will be conducted on a case-by-case basis during the initial six-month trial period, and the relevant legal framework will be drafted over the subsequent six months.
July 18, 2007
A Chinese person who supposedly came to Taiwan for business was arrested by the police for begging. The MAC indicates that this case seriously undermines the order of cross-strait exchanges. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is the responsible authority, should immediately initiate investigation procedures and, in accordance with the law, seriously punish the inviting unit, intermediary travel agent, and the Chinese person who illegally came to Taiwan. The relevant management mechanism for Chinese persons visiting Taiwan should also be reviewed.
July 18, 2007
The Center for Disease Control under the Department of Health, Executive Yuan issues a press release indicating that persons visiting China for sightseeing, family visits, business or other purposes should be especially careful to avoid contracting diseases transmitted by rodents or arthropod parasites on rodents.
July 20, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) urges China, from a humanitarian position, to promptly establish an institutionalized cross-strait platform for handling emergency incidents so as to facilitate mutual notification, coordination and handling of related matters, thereby protecting the rights and interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
July 20, 2007
At a regular press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu indicates that that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior have conducted a review of relevant management mechanisms governing Chinese businessmen coming to Taiwan. They will continue to reinforce the pre-event checks and on-the-spot inspection after their arrival to ensure that Chinese businessmen visiting Taiwan are managed properly.
July 20, 2007
The Department of Health under the Executive Yuan issues a press release stating that it would tighten controls on Chinese mitten crabs imported from China.
July 20, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates in a press release that in June 2007 approval was granted for 84 China-bound investments with a total value of US$540,275,000.
July 20, 2007
Members of a Taiwanese tour group involved in a car accident in Shandong Province, China take a medical charter flight back to Taiwan.
July 22, 2007
In his capacity as the Liberal International representative, Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen spoke on behalf of Taiwan's bid to be admitted to the World Health Organization at the UN Human Rights Council in late March this year. China later retaliates by forcing the UN Economic and Social Council to suspend Liberty International's advisory position in the UN for a period of one year.
July 24, 2007
The MAC sends a formal letter to sternly protest the Hong Kong government because it refused over one hundred Taiwanese Falun Gong practitioners with valid visas to visit Hong Kong before this year's July 1 democracy march.
July 27, 2007
The National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior publicly announces revisions to some stipulations of the "Permit Regulations Governing the Entry of Professionals of the Mainland Area into Taiwan for Professional Activities."
July 27, 2007
The National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior issues a press release stating that the government will take the initiative to review at the appropriate time and adjust as necessary the quota for Mainland Chinese spouses applying for residency in Taiwan based on the family reunion rights and interests of married couples and humanitarian viewpoints.
July 30, 2007
The MAC convenes a Council Meeting and approves a draft of the "Notice on Documentation Required by Persons of the Mainland Area when Applying on a Special Case Basis to Visit Taiwan for Medical Services."
August 3, 2007
At a regular press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu indicates that to date, 47 injured or ill persons have been transported from China to Taiwan on a total of 21 emergency medical charter flights since such flights were started in June 2006.
August 5, 2007
The APEC Preparatory Office rejects President Chen Shui-bian's choice of former Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen as "leader representative" at the APEC summit meeting to be held in early September in Sydney, Australia.
August 6, 2007
Jiang Xiaoyu, Executive Vice-President of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), states that the Olympic Torch relay route has been decided through consultations between the BOCOG and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee according to the regulations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The plan has already been approved by the IOC. China hopes that Taiwan can return to the consensus reached between the two sides and confirm the relay route on paper, so that the Olympic Torch can come to Taiwan.
August 8, 2007
The National Communications Commission (NCC) indicates that in future, permission to broadcast Chinese programs, applications filed by Hong Kong and Chinese satellite channels to operate in Taiwan, and other broadcasting affairs involving Taiwan's China policy must undergo a first stage of examination and approval by the Government Information Office and Mainland Affairs Council, and then undergo a second stage of supervisory and management work by the NCC, in accordance with relevant stipulations under the Broadcasting and Television Act.
August 9, 2007
Statistics compiled by China's Ministry of Culture (MOC) indicate that in the first six months of 2007, the MOC approved 200 items of cultural exchange activities with the Taiwan Area, with a total participation of 2,209 people. This included 119 activities for which 1,319 Chinese participants visited Taiwan and 81 activities for which 890 Taiwanese participants visited China.
August 10, 2007
At a press briefing, MAC Vice Chairman Tung Chen-yuan indicates that so long as the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) shows sincerity and goodwill, Taiwan will be very willing to conduct negotiations with Beijing on the matters related to the Olympic Torch relay route.
August 10, 2007
Chinese dissident Cai Lujun arrives in Taiwan. The MAC indicates that Cai assumed the identity of his younger brother to gain employment as a Chinese fisherman and came to Taiwan. Since this matter involves the crime of document forgery under the National Security Act and Criminal Act, the Coast Guard Administration has already submitted the case to the Ilan District Prosecutors' Office for investigation.
August 12, 2007
Under pressure from China, Venezuela refuses to issue visas for the Chinese Taipei Youth Baseball Team for participation in the 13th AA World Youth Baseball Championship.
August 14, 2007
The handing over and repatriation of Chinese hijackers Yang Mingde and Lin Wenqiang is smoothly completed by the Straits Exchange Association along with the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China and the Chinese side.
August 14, 2007
Police authorities in Fujian repatriate 19 Taiwanese criminal suspects to Taiwan in accordance with the Kinmen Accord.
August 14, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs issues an announcement stating that it would strengthen preventative examination and monitoring measures against inferior Chinese goods.
August 16, 2007
The MAC issues a statement condemning the Hong Kong SAR Government for returning Taiwan's statement which is aimed at protesting against Hong Kong's peremptory repatriation of Taiwanese persons in violation of their human rights. The MAC also sternly demands that the Hong Kong SAR Government handle cases of Taiwanese people entering Hong Kong and issues related to contacts between Taiwan and Hong Kong in a rational and pragmatic way so as to avoid actions that further damage relations between the two sides.
August 17, 2007
The MAC issues the results of a public opinion survey on current cross-strait relations. The survey results indicate that 78 percent of the public disagree with China's statement that "As a part of China, Taiwan is not qualified to join the United Nations." Moreover, 73.4 percent of the public support Taiwan to seek UN membership under the name of Taiwan.
August 20, 2007
In an announcement, the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates that in July 2007, approval was granted for 89 China-bound investments with a total value of US$1,184,292,000.
August 21, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs re-urges consumers and businesses not to buy or import any of 47 brands of Chinese-made toothpaste. It also asked hotel operators to not use toothpaste containing diethylene glycol.
August 21, 2007
The National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior promulgates the revised "Permit Regulations Governing Applications by Persons of the Mainland Area to Visit Taiwan for Service Due to Transfer within Transnational Enterprises."
August 23, 2007
The Ministry of the Interior indicates that four real estate purchases in Taiwan by Chinese persons have been reviewed and approved.
August 24, 2007
According to statistics compiled by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), in the first seven months of this year, the SEF handled 1,199 requests for help related to the safety of the life or property of the Taiwanese businesspeople in China. Of the total, 341 cases involved limitations to personal freedom. The SEF emphasizes that the cases of families willing to seek assistance from the foundation are only the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of cases is surely exceeds the number of cases reported to the SEF by a large degree.
August 27, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) holds an "Explore the Beauty of Taiwan" summer camp activity for the children of China-based Taiwanese businesspeople. The camp consists of two sessions held from July 7. A total of 300 students register to take part in the camp, including third graders and eighth graders studying in China, Hong Kong and Macao.
August 28, 2007
The Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs lifts import restrictions on 48 items of Chinese products, among which 21 items are under the category of ready-made clothing products.
August 28, 2007
According to the latest statistics compiled by the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, indirect cross-strait trade in the first seven months of 2007 amounted to US$66.17 billion, an increase of 12.6 percent over the same period of the year before.
August 29, 2007
The Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council and the Jiangxi Provincial Government jointly hold the "2007 Jiangxi-Taiwan Economic and Trade Cooperation Symposium" in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
August 30, 2007
The MAC and National Immigration Agency convene a joint review meeting, which conditionally approves a visit to Taiwan by Chinese basketball star Yao Ming.
September 2, 2007
According to statistics compiled by the MAC and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), the SEF had, as of the end of July, received 1,199 requests for assistance involving the personal security or property of Taiwanese businesspeople. Of the total, 341 cases related to restrictions of personal freedom.
September 2, 2007
A "Chinese Media Mission to Taiwan" arrives in Taipei. The mission is composed of eight Chinese news workers from Xinhua News Agency, Peoples Daily, and China News Service.
September 3, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs reminds consumers that they should be aware following a U.S. recall of Chinese-made hooded jerseys.
September 4, 2007
Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Vice Secretary-General Chang Shu-ti indicates that the SEF has sent a team of business consultants familiar with Chinese law and accounting to provide professional consulting assistance to Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in its business disputes with Beijing Hualian Group. He also calls on the Chinese authorities to promptly investigate the truth of this matter and appropriately resolve it according to the law.
September 5, 2007
The Department of Health under the Executive Yuan will carry out strict inspection measures on Chinese mitten crabs imported from China and carefully check on import inspection operations.
September 5, 2007
According to statistics, as of June 2007, residents of Taiwan had made an accumulated 44.62 million person-trips to China; and Chinese residents had made an accumulated more than 1.5 million person-trips to Taiwan. In the first half of 2007, Taiwan residents made 2.2 million person-trips to China, an increase of 5.4 percent over the same period a year before; and Chinese residents made 11,000 person-trips to Taiwan, an increase of 10.7 percent over the same period a year before. Of the total Chinese person-trips to Taiwan, 17,438 were related to 3,434 exchange activities.
September 6, 2007
Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Festival flights will be offered over a 15-day period from September 18 to October 2, 2007. There will be a total of 24 round-trip flights provided by 12 airlines from the five flight destinations of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen in China and Taipei in Taiwan.
September 7, 2007
The Service Office for Return Taiwanese Investment at the Department of Investment Services under the Ministry of Economic Affairs completes a list of 16 industries suitable for investment in industrial value chains as a reference for China-based Taiwanese businesspeople in investing back to Taiwan. The department hopes through this convenient and proactive service to accelerate the implementation of investment projects.
September 7, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs conducts a spot check of toothpaste used in tourist hotels and inns. It discovers that the Chinese "Fresh" brand of toothpaste has a diethylene glycol content of four. It immediately notifies the supplier of the need to stop supplying this toothpaste brand for consumer use and to carry out a full recall.
September 7, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs reminds that consumers should be alert to the U.S. recall of Chinese-made outdoor candles.
September 7, 2007
At the invitation of the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association, Chinese basketball player Yao Ming comes to Taiwan for an exchange visit.
September 8, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation holds a "Happiness in Taiwan" fair in Taichung for Chinese spouses in Taiwan.
September 9, 2007
Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Chairman Tsai Chen-wei states that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) has added one or two new rules regarding the Olympic Torch relay route through Taiwan, making Taiwan unable to sign the agreement.
September 12, 2007
Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee Chairman Tsai Chen-wei states that after Taiwan and China reached a "three-point consensus" on the Olympic Torch relay route through Taiwan, the Beijing side raised new condition to demand that the memoir of the meeting signed in February 2007 be added as a last minute proviso, which was unacceptable to Taiwan.
September 12, 2007
Representatives of Beijing Hualian Group and Taiwan's Shin Kong Mitsukoshi sign a declaration of a three-point agreement reached on the dispute over each party's compliance with the cooperation agreement on their joint venture Hualian Shin Kong Department Store (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
September 13, 2007
The Keelung Customs Office states that working together with the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, it has inspected and seized suspected sub-standard frozen river shrimp smuggled into Taiwan from China.
September 18, 2007
The most recent statistics from the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicate that the value of indirect cross-strait trade in the first eight months of 2007 amounted to US$77.54 billion, a 13 percent increase from the same period a year before. Chinese exports to Taiwan increased by 14.4 percent to reach US$15.18 billion; and Chinese imports from Taiwan increased by 12.6 percent to US$62.36 billion.
September 19, 2007
The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection under the Ministry of Economic Affairs will cooperate with the Directorate General of Customs under the Ministry of Finance to conduct border spot checks of high-risk bedding and toothpaste products imported from China. Products that do not comply with regulations may not be sold on the market and in serious cases, importation may be prohibited.
September 20, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs releases data indicating that in August 2007 approval was granted for 100 China-bound investments with a total value of US$1,406,493,000. In the first eight months of 2007, there were 693 approved China-bound investments with a total value of US$6,237,611,000, up 1.61% and 35.81%, respectively, from the same period of 2006.
September 21, 2007
The National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior repatriates 132 illegal Chinese immigrants from Matsu.
September 21, 2007
The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) and Sports Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan issue a press release stating that after the CTOC and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) have negotiated and communicated on the arrangement of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch relay route through Taiwan, no agreement can be reached. Taiwan expresses deep regret that it has been confirmed the Olympic Torch cannot come to Taiwan.
September 27, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation holds the 2007 Mid-Autumn Festival Gathering of Taiwanese Businesspeople and the 7th Taiwanese Businesspeople's Golf Tournament in Taoyuan.
September 27, 2007
The MAC indicates that in the cases involving the registration by people in China of Taiwan's tea producing areas as trademarks, administrative relief or legal proceedings have been initiated according to China's legal system.
September 27, 2007
At the 2007 Mid-Autumn Festival gathering of Taiwanese businesspeople hosted by the Businesspeople's Associations and the Straits Exchange Foundation, Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Hung Chi-chang states that in the current stage, Taiwan should promote weekend cross-strait charter flights and expand the flight destinations for holiday cross-strait charter flights from the current four destinations (Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen and Guangzhou) to eight destinations with the inclusion of Hangzhou, Chengdu, Fuzhou and Nanjing.
September 28, 2007
The Taiwan Affairs Office under China's State Council claims that Taiwan's demand in August that pharmaceutical residue in Chinese mitten crabs imported from China must be below detectable levels is too strict. The MAC indicates that in October 2006, nitrofuran metabolites were found in Chinese mitten crabs imported from China. Therefore, the Department of Health under the Executive Yuan strengthened management and supervision measures according to stipulations of the Regulations Governing the Inspection of Imported Foods newly revised on July 1, 2007.
October 1, 2007
At a symposium marking the anniversary of the mainland's official opening to Taiwan media, Ye Kedong, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, states that China will promote the mutual dispatching of resident correspondents across the Taiwan Strait.
October 8, 2007
China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) sends a letter to the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) expressing sympathy for Taiwanese compatriots killed or affected by typhoon Krosa.
October 16, 2007
The 13th Symposium on Cross-Strait Finance opens in Taipei. Assistant Governor Yi Gang of the People's Bank of China leads the Chinese financial delegation, which also includes China EXIM Bank Vice President Su Zhong, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Vice President Li Xiaopeng, People's Insurance Company of China Vice President Zhuang Chaoying, and China International Finance Corporation President and Chief Executive Zhu Yunlai.
October 17, 2007
The Center for Disease Control in Taiwan issues an overview of contagious diseases in China during the months of July to September and warns travelers planning to visit China to be on heightened alert.
October 17, 2007
The nominations list for the 11th Award for Reporting on Cross-Strait Relations and the Mainland is announced. A total of 24 works and 65 news professionals are selected for the award, which is sponsored by the MAC Chinese Development Fund and organized by the School of Mass Communication at Ming Chuan University.
October 18, 2007
The website for China's Beijing Association for Taiwanese-invested Enterprises recruiting volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games lists the country/area section on the registration form for Taiwanese volunteers as "China Taipei," intentionally downgrading Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan's Minister of Education issues a letter to universities asking them to advise their students against participating in the volunteer program.
October 18, 2007
The Public Security Department of Fujian Province in China introduces new measures to streamline the procedures for "Taiwan Travel Permits for Mainland Residents" and the required accompanying documentation.
October 18, 2007
Kunshan Municipal Political Consultative Conference Vice Chairmen Xu Jianming and Chen Qi, who are also directors of the KG Landmark Hotel Kunshan, led a group of more than 20 unidentified persons in charging the Taiwan-invested KG Landmark Hotel Kunshan and stealing the hotel's company seal and financial seal. They also assaulted the hotel's Chinese general manager Zhu Jun and chief financial officer Shen Sen.
October 19, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates in a press release that in September 2007 approval was granted for 77 China-bound investments with a total value of US$619,127,000. In the first nine months of 2007, there were 770 approved China-bound investments with a total value of US$6,856,738,000, down 2.41% and up 28.80%, respectively, from the same period of 2006.
October 23, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) is authorized by the responsible authority to send another letter to China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) requesting assistance in arresting wanted criminal Wang Chin She-ying and repatriating her back to Taiwan.
October 23, 2007
China convenes the First Symposium on Cross-Strait Civilian Exchanges in Tianjin. The event is attended by over 60 representatives from Taiwan, including the presidents and directors of over 40 civilian industry associations and scholars of higher education institutes.
October 23, 2007
China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing applies for permission to legally broadcast its programs by satellite in Taiwan.
October 24, 2007
The MAC issues a press release indicating that a Chinese doctor illegally came to Taiwan to recruit patients for liver transplant operations and conduct pre-surgery assessments. Such actions not only violate regulations on exchange visits by Chinese persons to Taiwan, but also involve issues under Taiwan's medical laws and regulations. The responsible authority has been asked to assist in the investigation. If the case is verified as true, the related agencies will impose penalties according to the law.
October 24, 2007
The Kaohsiung National Tax Administration states that in cases where taxpayers are reporting dependent relatives in the Mainland Area, the legality of the submitted documentation and the existence of said relatives must be notarized by a local public notary office in China and verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).
October 25, 2007
The MAC Chinese Development Fund holds the annual "Cross-Strait College Student Camp" and in cooperation with Taipei 101 arranges for camp participants to take part in the "2007 Taipei 101 International Run-up Race."
October 28, 2007
Fujian Province opens Putian Harbor as a port for direct cargo transportaton via the "Mini-Three-Link" route.
October 31, 2007
Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Yang Yi states at a press conference that as of the end of September this year, Taiwanese residents had made 45.83 million person-trips to mainland China, and 1.56 million mainland residents had visited Taiwan; accumulated cross-strait trade totaled US$693.3 billion; and an accumulated 74,327 China-bound investments by Taiwanese businesspeople had been approved, with a total investment amount of US$45 billion.
November 2, 2007
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency on the development of cross-strait exchanges over the past 20 years, Dai Xiaofeng, director-general of the Exchange Bureau of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, states that according to statistics, as of September 2007, residents of Taiwan have accumulatively made 45.83 million person-trips to China; and Chinese residents have accumulatively made more than 1.56 million person-trips to Taiwan. There are nearly 400,000 Taiwanese compatriots residing for a long time in China, and more than 18,000 Taiwanese compatriots that are permanent residents in China. There also have been about 270,000 cross-strait marriages.
November 5, 2007
A MAC Council Meeting approves draft revisions to the "Regulations Governing Hong Kong and Macao Residents Studying in Taiwan" proposed by the Ministry of Education.
November 6, 2007
The Kaohsiung National Tax Administration under the Ministry of Finance issues a press release stating that, since the Ministry of Education does not yet recognize academic degrees earned in the Mainland Area, taxpayers with children studying in the Mainland Area cannot list such education expenses for the dependent deductions on their consolidated income tax returns.
November 6, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation is authorized by the responsible agency to send a letter to China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) requesting assistance from China in arresting and repatriating or canceling the travel permits of Wang Yu-yun, a wanted criminal who was the former president of Chung Shing Commercial Bank before fleeing to China.
November 20, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates in a press release that, in October 2007, Taiwan approved 79 China-bound investment projects with a total value of US$806,946,000.
November 26, 2007
In order to prevent the Chinese people from coming to Taiwan through false marriages, the MAC and related agencies jointly formulates a flowchart for "Matters Needing Attention for Inspecting and Prosecuting Cases of Suspected False Marriages between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area."
November 28, 2007
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) issues a public opinion survey indicating that over the past 20 years, Taiwan and China have increasingly become psychologically alienated. Among all respondents, 44 percent support "Taiwan independence," 23 percent agree with "maintaining the status quo," and about 18 percent agree with "cross-strait unification."
December 5, 2007
As of September, Fujian Province in China has actually utilized over US$12.4 billion in Taiwanese capital cumulatively; and Fujian's trade with Taiwan reached a cumulative US$50.6 billion. Fujian also continued to be China's biggest user of Taiwanese capital in the agricultural sector.
December 6, 2007
According to statistics, between 2003 and October 2007, the Intermediate People's Court of Guangzhou City in China and the basic courts under its jurisdiction have adjudicated 109 cases involving Taiwan-related businesses, with a total target amount of 652.14 million renminbi.
December 7, 2007
According to Chinese customs statistics, in the first 10 months of 2007, Taiwan's share of China's import market grew by 15.1%, giving Taiwan a 10.6% market share, or 0.4 percentage points less than in the same period of 2006.
December 14, 2007
According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, between September 2006 and December 10, 2007, there were 98 confirmed cases of investment back to Taiwan by overseas Taiwanese enterprises, with a total investment amount of approximately NT$9.7 billion.
December 14, 2007
A total of 31 provincial and city tourism bureaus as well as the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China organized 255 booths at the 2007 Taipei International Travel Fair and the Second Cross-Strait Taipei Travel Fair.
December 17, 2007
The Kaohsiung National Tax Administration states that if the mainland spouse and children of a taxpayer have not yet entered Taiwan, the taxpayer shall present a certificate issued by the local public security agency in China as documentation for application of tax exemptions for spouse and children when filing a consolidated income tax return in Taiwan. Tax exemptions will not be recognized if the certificate of family relationship is not verified by the Straits Exchange Foundation.
December 19, 2007
Statistics compiled by the Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicate that indirect trade between China and Taiwan amounted to US$112.79 billion in the first 11 months of 2007, an increase of 14.9% over the same period in 2006. China's exports to Taiwan amounted to US$21.18 billion and China's imports from Taiwan amounted to US$91.61 billion, giving China a trade deficit of US$70.43 billion.
December 20, 2007
The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs releases data indicating that in November 2007 approval was granted for 68 China-bound investments with a total value of US$784,922,000. In the first 11 months of 2007, there were 917 approved China-bound investments with a total value of US$8,448,607,000, a decrease of 6.71% and increase of 31.99%, respectively, from the same period of 2006.
December 21, 2007
The National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior updated the "Notice on Inviting Professionals of the Mainland Area to Engage in Activities in Taiwan."
December 208, 2007
The Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs releases statistics indicating that in the first 10 months of 2007, total trade between Taiwan and China amounted to US$83.47 billion. This is a 15.2% increase from the same period of 2006 and represents 21.9% of Taiwan's total trade during the period, up 1.4 percentage points from the same period in 2006. In the same comparison period, exports to China rose 16.1% to US$60.5 billion and accounted for 30% of Taiwan's total exports, up 1.8 percentage point; imports from China increased 12.8% to US$22.97 billion and accounted for 12.7% of Taiwan's total imports, up 0.6 percentage points trade; and Taiwan's trade surplus rose 18.2% to US$37.53 billion. In October alone, Taiwan's imports from China rose by 7.6% over the same month a year earlier to reach US$2.47 billion, accounting for 12.8% of Taiwan's total import amount and representing a historic record high for a single month.
December 31, 2007
In order to prevent the illegal use of fishing boats and other transportation vehicles to smuggle Chinese people into Taiwan, the Council of Agriculture formulates the "Procedures for Managing Disposition Operations Involving Taiwan-registered Fishing Boats under Paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 79 of the Act Governing Relations Between Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" and the detailed regulations governing related work as outlined in the flowchart.