January 1, 2001
President Chen Shui-bian emphasizes in his New Year's Day Message that although there is a lack of consensus within Taiwan on the formulation of a policy for future cross-Strait relations, there is consistent position to demand the Mainland to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, and to engage in constructive dialogue by peaceful means.
January 1, 2001
Trial implementation of "Mini-Three-links" at Kinmen and Matsu commences based on the "Guidelines for the Trial Implementation of Transportation Links at Kinmen and Matsu."
January 2, 2001
The official visiting delegation for the "Mini-Three-Links" between Kinmen and Xiamen sets off smoothly at Liao-luo Port in Kinmen.
January 3, 2001
MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen expresses that the success of the "Mini-Three-Links" is the key to the smooth implementation of the "Three-Links." The Government has never intended to use the "Mini-Three-links" as a way to delay the implementation of the "Three-Links."
January 6, 2001
The Executive Yuan holds the nationwide Economic Development Advisory Conference in Taipei on the 6th and 7th. The results include the evaluation and adjustment of the "commercial links" policy of the "Three-Llinks" in coordination with Taiwan's accession to the WTO, by reasonably allowing the importation of Mainland goods, allowing Mainland capital and businesses to invest in Taiwan's service sector, engaging in negotiations for cross-Strait direct transportation links under the principles of parity and reciprocity, reinforcing cross-Strait technological exchanges, and allowing large-scale importation of technological manpower resources from the Mainland.
January 12, 2001
President Chen Shui-bian expresses that the integration he has in mind is patterned after that of the European Union, wherein there are three concepts involved: sovereignty, freedom, and self-will.
January 22, 2001
MAC issues three statements in response to Qian Qichen's statement on the 6th anniversary of "Jiang Zemin's Eight-Point Proposal." The MAC reiterates its desire to sit down and talk with Mainland authorities without setting any preconditions and pre-set positions, and start a dialogue on issues that concern both sides.
January 29, 2001
MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen expresses that Legislator Tsao Er-chung's signing of a cooperation agreement with the Economic, Cultural, and Exchange Center of Mawei, Fujian, is non-official in nature, and does not concern whether it is valid or not. The authority to negotiate on the "Mini-Three-Links" lies on the central government, and negotiations conducted by local governments cannot represent official negotiations.
February 6, 2001
An Xiamen commercial vessel makes a first in history by sailing between Kinmen and Xiamen.
February 8, 2001
The Xinhua News Agency's first batch of news correspondents to station in Taiwan, Fan Liqing and Chen Pinhua, arrives in Taipei for a month-long stay and coverage of Taiwan news reports.
February 20, 2001
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung expresses in his administrative report at the Legislative Yuan that the "no haste, be patient" policy implemented by the past administration requires adjustment due to changes in current conditions. The Executive Yuan has directed the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other agencies concerned to make a comprehensive evaluation of cross-Strait trade and economic policies, and adjust them toward the direction of "proactive liberalization with effective management."
February 23, 2001
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung says at the Legislative Yuan that the "Guidelines for National Unification" is an important document on cross-Strait relations. There have been changes in cross-Strait interaction and trends, and there indeed is a need for a re-consideration of matters. However, there is no immediate need to adjust the "Guidelines for National Unification."
March 26, 2001
MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen expresses that both sides of the Strait should establish a foundation of mutual trust through trade and economic interaction.
April 9, 2001
The Council of Labor Affairs announces and implements the "Guidelines for the Employment and Management of Mainland Spouses During Their Period of Stay in Taiwan."
May 15, 2001
Ministry of Economic Affairs Minister Lin Hsin-yi says in a press conference that the Government's "no haste, be patient" policy on trade and economic relations with the Mainland will be adjusted. Future industrial investments in the Mainland will be listing down which industries are not allowed for investment instead of listing only those industries that are allowed for investment. However, power plant investments will still not be allowed.
May 21, 2001
President Chen Shui-bian embarks on a state visit to Central American countries, with which Taiwan has diplomatic relations, from May 21 to June 5.
May 27, 2001
President Chen Shui-bian introduces the "New Five No's Policy" in cross-Strait relations at a tea session with accompanying reporters in Guatemala during his Latin American trip. These are: 1. Weapons purchases from and stopovers in the United States are not to be considered provocative to the PRC; 2. The ROC government will not misread the cross-strait situation; 3. Taiwan will not be a pawn of any country; 4. Taipei has never abandoned its sincerity and its efforts to improve cross-strait relations, ; and 5. cross-strait ties are not zero-sum .
May 30, 2001
Partial revisions of the "Measures Governing Banking Sector's Correspondence Between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" are passed in a Executive Yuan session, which will allow branch offices of international financial institutions to run direct financial operations between both sides of the Strait and will permit Taiwanese financial institutions to establish representative offices in the Mainland.
June 1, 2001
The MAC releases its white paper on Hong Kong and Macao, pointing out its hope for the Mainland to pragmatically handle Taiwan-Hong Kong and Macao affairs from a macro- and long-term view, and for both sides to establish a normalized mechanism for communication and coordination. It also expresses hope that Hong Kong and Macao would set up representative offices in Taiwan to establish a new structure for mutual exchanges and create a quadruple-win situation together.
June 6, 2001
The Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announces that since Taiwan and Hong Kong have not yet finished discussing a new aviation agreement, both sides have signed an agreement to postpone the expiration of the old agreement from June 12 to December 31, in order to maintain normal operation of flights between Taiwan and Hong Kong.
July 5, 2001
The MAC releases a policy paper on the "Planning and Implementation of the Policy Allowing People from the Mainland Area to Visit Taiwan for Tourism," pointing out that the Government has completed the draft of the "Permit Guidelines for Allowing People from the Mainland Area to Engage in Tourism in Taiwan." The number of tourists from the Mainland will be managed through step-by-step "volume control" procedures, and tourists belonging to the same group will be required to enter and exit the country together.
July 8, 2001
The Economic Development Advisory Commission of the Office of the President convenes its first preparatory meeting that lists the "promotion of cross-Strait trade and exchanges with roots remaining in Taiwan" as one of the discussion issues in its agenda. The topics include 1. cross-Strait trade and economic relations and national security, 2.evaluation of cross-Strait investment regulations, 3.timetable and conditions for implementing cross-Strait direct transportation links, 4.establishment of capital backflow mechanism, and 5.the speed-up of adjustments to cope with accession to the WTO and cross-Strait trade and economy.
July 13, 2001
President Chen Shui-bian expresses that the "one country, two systems" is making Taiwan similar to the "Hong Kong" model, wherein certain systems, freedom, and human rights need the approval of Mainland authorities to take effect. This kind of "one country, two systems" is not acceptable to the majority of the Taiwanese people.
August 14, 2001
The Ministry of the Interior promulgates partial revisions of the "Measures Governing Mainland Professionals to Visit Taiwan for Professional Activities," which extends the stay of Mainland high-tech personnel in Taiwan to three years.
August 26, 2001
The Economic Development Advisory Conference passes a consensus on 36 items reached by the Cross-Strait Affairs Panel, which includes the promotion of the basic principles of cross-Strait trade and economic development, the proactive liberalization of cross-Strait trade and economy and investment (loosening the "no haste, be patient" policy), the establishment of a flexible mechanism for cross-Strait capital flow, the accession to the WTO and the cross-Strait "Three-Links," the active promotion of allowing Mainland tourists to visit Taiwan and of cross-Strait negotiations.
September 5, 2001
An Executive Yuan session passes revision of the "Trial Implementation of the Measures Governing Transport Between the Offshore Islands of Kinmen and Matsu and the Mainland Areas," which augments that during the trial run of direct transportation links, R.O.C. vessels may enter the Mainland area through the Penghu Islands with prior approval by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on a special case basis, as deemed necessary by Taiwan's Mainland policy.
September 21, 2001
MAC Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen emphasizes during a question and answer session at the Legislative Yuan that such policies as cross-Strait direct transportation links and allowing Mainland tourists to visit Taiwan involve the enforcement of administrative authority, and it is not appropriate to allow private institutions to replace the Government in negotiations with the Mainland.
September 28, 2001
The Ministry of Finance approves the setting up of offices in the Mainland by the First Bank, Huanan Commercial Bank, Changhwa Bank, International Commercial Bank of China, the Land Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, United World Chinese Commercial Bank, and the Chinatrust Bank.
October 1, 2001
The 16-member delegation composed of journalists from the Mainland's All-China Journalists' Association arrives in Taiwan for a visit. This batch of Mainland reporters will not be restricted in their activities and can freely engage in interviews and cover news reports related to education within the time period indicated on the Reporter's ID card issued by the GIO. This has made a breakthrough in previous restrictions and regulations on Mainland reporters.
October 10, 2001
In his National Day address, President Chen Shui-bian expresses the hope that the leaders of the Mainland will be able to see the current mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, and will resume the mechanism of cross-Strait talks, and open up the door to negotiations, in order to create infinite possibilities and opportunities for the peoples on both sides of the Strait in the coming new century.
November 1, 2001
During a meeting with former US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, President Chen Shui-bian points out that the Mainland mentions that acknowledging the principle of "One China" is the "1992 Consensus," and that this serves as a pre-condition for resuming talks is its disguise to refuse talks. We have gone over every document, and there is no so-called "consensus." This has been unilaterally decided by the Mainland, and has not gained the approval of Taiwan.
November 7, 2001
An Executive Yuan session approves the policy of "proactive liberalization with effective management" of Mainland investments, abolishes the US$50 million maximum limit to Mainland investment cases, and implements a new review mechanism.
November 7, 2001
The Executive Yuan announces the second-phase exchange measures of cross-Strait financial operations, and decides to relax remmitances between Overseas Banking Units (OBU) and Mainland banks.
November 12, 2001
The MAC issues a statement pointing out that each side of the Strait do not belong to each other. The accession of each side to the WTO is handled separately, and both sides shall be considered independent, parallel, equal members after accession. It is hoped that the Mainland authorities will not use political interference in disrupting cross-Strait economic and trade relations and cross-Strait interaction under the WTO structure, in order to show the spirit of free trade at the WTO.
December 25, 2001
The Executive Yuan's Steering Committee of the "Mini-Three-Links" at Kinmen and Matsu decides on extending its trial implementation for one year.