May 5, 1998
"National People's Congress Preparatory Committee for the Macau Special Administration Region" is established in Beijing.
May 11, 1998
The PRC holds the "National Meeting on Works Related to Taiwan" in Beijing for three days.
June 26, 1998
Mainland China sets up the "Center for Legal Services on Taiwan Affairs" in Fuzhou to provide comprehensive legal services to Taiwan people, relatives and Taiwan enterprises.
July 27, 1998
The Information Office of the State Council issues a PRC Defense White Paper. In reference to cross-strait relations, the White Paper says that the PRC will not renounce the use of force against Taiwan. It emphasizes that each sovereign state has the right to adopt any means necessary, including military force, to safeguard the integrity of its sovereignty and territory.
August 8, 1998
The Women's Club of Taiwan-invested Enterprise Association is established in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.
September 7, 1998
The Center of Legal Services on Taiwan Affairs is established in Fuzhou with the support of the Fujian Province Taiwan Affairs Office. Chen Zidong, former director of the Fujian Province Taiwan Affairs Office, is named president of the center.
September 14, 1998
Fujian Vice Governor Zhang Jiakun, leading the Economic and Trade Delegation of Fujian-Taiwan Exchanges Association, arrives Taiwan for a 10-day visit.
September 27-29, 1998
PRC Minister of Foreign Affairs Tang Jiaxuan arrives in Washington for a three-day visit. On September 29, Tang meets U.S. President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright separately. At meetings, Tang says he hopes the Taiwan issue will not affect the U.S.-PRC relationship. Tang also rules out the possibility that ROC President Lee visit the Mainland in his capacity as president.
October 7-11, 1998
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the PRC State Council holds the Seminar on News Programs Related to Taiwan Affairs in Huairou, Beijing. All Mainland China's central-level news directors attend the seminar.
October 12-14, 1998
The Third Plenary Meeting of the 15th CCP Central Committee takes place in Beijing for three days.
October 12-14, 1998
Fujian Vice Governor Zhang Jiakun, leading a 10-member trade delegation, arrives in Taiwan for a visit.
October 18, 1998
The Hong Kong Institute of International Affairs announces the establishment of the Research Center for Cross-strait Relations. The director of the institute, Huang Xuehai, doubles as the director of the center. The center will focus on three fields - China's (PRC) foreign policy, U.S.-China relations and the Taiwan issue, and the triangular relations among the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The center is a private institution and provides consultancy to SEF and ARATS.
October 21-22, 1998
Taiwan Affairs Office of the PRC State Council, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, and Ministry of Justice jointly held in Jiangsu "Seminar of the Theory and Implementation of Jurisprudence to Protect Taiwan Investments on the Mainland."
October 27, 1998
The PRC Ministry of Public Security announces it will simplify entry procedures for Taiwan businessmen, including reducing the time for applying and extending multiple entry visas for Taiwan businessmen and temporary residents in the Mainland. Procedures for application and the review processes are simplified.
November 2, 1998
The PRC establishes formal relations with Tonga, which had maintained diplomatic ties with the ROC.
November 5-6, 1998
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the PRC State Council sponsors "Training Session for Officials Handling Taiwan Affairs" with the participation of all directors in charge of Taiwan affairs on the Mainland.
November 6, 1998
At the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Preparation Committee for the Macau Special Administrative Region in Zhuhai, PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen says that after Macau reverts to Chinese rule, the Taiwan side may continue its presence in Macau, but is required to strictly observe the "one China" principle.
November 11, 1998
In an interview with Asahi Shimbun of Japan, PRC President Jiang Zemin mentions that as long as under the principle of "one China", the two sides could touch on the post-unification issues such as the nation's name, national flag and anthem.
November 14, 1998
The Taiwan Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, both under the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are merged into the Department of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan Affairs. Zhu Zushou, former director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, serves as the director.
November 17, 1998
At a press conference after the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Malaysia, PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Zhu Bangzao publicly states that Taiwan may not accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the PRC. He claims that Taiwan, as a regional economy, "has no right to participate in any negotiations between sovereign states."
November 22-25, 1998
PRC President Jiang Zemin visits Russia at the invitation of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The two issue a joint announcement "Sino-Russian Relations at the Turn of the Century" on November 23. They say that their bilateral strategic partnership will not be used as an alliance to take any stand against a third nation.
November 23, 1998
Mainland authorities complete the draft of Statutes for the Protection of Taiwan Investments.
November 26-30, 1998
PRC President Jiang Zemin visits Japan and holds a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. The two issue the "Joint Announcement on Promoting Peace and Developing Friendly Partnership". The two sides do not hold a signature ceremony or a joint press conference. The announcement is made public separately by each side.
December 4, 1998
While meeting with a delegation of the Taiwan's Industrial and Business Association, PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen says that after Macau's sovereignty is reverted to the PRC in 1999, "one China" policy is applicable to handle Macau-Taiwan relations.
December 7-10, 1998
The Taiwan Compatriots Federation convenes the second plenary meeting of its Sixth Congress in Beijing.
December 17, 1998
The Xinhua News Agency and China News Service carry the same article with a byline by Tao Zhenghua, titled "The German Model is not suitable for Chinese Unification".
December 18, 1998
The Xinhua News Agency and China News Service carry the same article to accuse the ROC's views on cross-strait relations. Commenting on SEF Chairman Koo Cheng-fu's reference to the "Cairo Proclamation" and "Potsdam Proclamation" during his October visit to Beijing, the article says that the two proclamations were a complete denial of the split and separate nation. The two proclamations proved that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and China's sovereignty and territory can not be divided.
December 25, 1998
The PRC National Association on Taiwan Studies holds in Beijing "the Academic Seminar to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Papers for Taiwan Compatriots."
December 29, 1998
The PRC National People's Congress Standing Committee adopts a legal explanation on the issue of post-1999 nationality of Macau residents. Without prejudice to the PRC "Nationality Law", the PRC will flexibly handle the issue of Macau citizen's nationality in a relaxed fashion.
December 31, 1998
PRC President Jiang Zemin, in a New Year message, repeats calls for "peaceful unification" and "one country, two systems" to resolve the Taiwan issue. He hopes Taiwan can enter into dialogue and negotiations with the PRC as early as possible.