Tourists from China may be welcomed

In yet another move to liberalize policy toward China, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said yesterday Taiwan is planning to lift its ban on visits by Chinese tourists by June next year.

"We are very concerned about this matter and hope to open up [visits] next year," Chang said.

However, Chang said quotas will be set on the number of Chinese residents permitted to visit, based on considerations for national security. The policy will be similar to a format adopted to control immigration stemming from direct cross-strait shipping.

Chang made the remarks during interpellation at the Legislative Yuan yesterday.

Taiwan is set to open up direct cross-strait shipping links between the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu and China's Xiamen and Fuzhou ports by January. Chinese residents permitted to stay in Kinmen and Matsu will be limited to a maximum of 700 and 100 people per day, respectively.

Taiwan lifted a ban prohibiting its nationals from traveling to China in November 1987. Though the trips have so far been made in the name of "visiting relatives," most are for sight-seeing purposes.

At present, Taiwan only permits Chinese specialists to visit Taiwan for specific purposes such as conferences and exchange activities.

Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said the council would try to work out measures that reflect today's demands, such as officially approving cross-strait pleasure tours.

When asked by lawmakers about the government's strategy to restore dialogue with China, Chang and Tsai again urged China to put aside the dispute over "one China" as a basis to restarting cross-strait talks.

"Our attitude is that both sides should sit down and deal with the question concerning a `future one China.' At present, there isn't sufficient popular support for `the principle of one China' [proposed by China]," Tsai said.

Another issue that concerned lawmakers was the Executive Yuan's final decision on whether to continue construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant project -- which Chang has promised will be issued by late December.

While still declining to indicate his preference, Chang yesterday said the Cabinet will make a decision in the shortest time possible -- after thorough discussion of the matter is conducted.

Chang, however, said he disagreed with the stance held by his predecessor, former premier Tang Fei (唐飛). Tang said he believed that the Executive Yuan lacked a legal basis to amend the budget passed by the legislature for the project.

Chang said discontinuing the budget would not subject the Executive Yuan to any legal liability, though it would have to accept political responsibility.

During a radio interview yesterday, Yu Shyi-kun, secretary-general to the Presidential Office, said that the DPP government is very specific about its position against nuclear power.

Yu said the "right timing" for the announcement would be critical for the Executive Yuan, in light of its possible impact on society.