Mainland Affairs Council Chair-woman Tsai Ing-wen (
Tsai made the remarks in a speech while attending an opening ceremony for a private think tank, led by former New Party legislator Lai Shyh-bao (
The current ban on direct investment in China stipulates that Taiwanese companies have to go through subsidiaries registered in a third area or country if they want to invest in China. Tsai, however, declined to elaborate on the details of the new regulations.
Tsai also said that the council is studying the possibility of extending the functions of the Offshore Transshipment Zone to allow Chinese products to enter Taiwan after the necessary customs examinations.
The Kaohsiung Offshore Transshipment Zone is the only port in Taiwan which is open to Chinese products. The zone is part of a compound which includes a manufacturing park with factories that specialize in assembling local and imported Chinese parts for export.
Imported Chinese products are not allowed on the Taiwanese market but can to be transferred to other places after being assembled in the manufacturing park.
"Preparing the way for Chinese products to enter the Taiwanese market through the Offshore Trans-shipment Zone is our primary task," she said. Tsai declined to say when the measure will be implemented, but said the move will not be carried out until the "Chinese side is willing to cooperate."
She stressed that allowing Chinese products to enter the Taiwanese market was discussed at last year's Economic Development Advisory Conference. "We are just trying to put the consensus into practice," she said.
As for direct links, Tsai said the government will propose a concrete plan for transportation links with China within a few months. But she also said that since China will be holding its 16th Party Congress this autumn, "political factors might interfere in the cross-strait negotiations."
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