The legislature's special task force on cross-strait relations (
Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who serves as convener of the panel, announced that Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would be invited to brief the panel next Thursday on the government's plan to open direct shipping between the islands of Kinmen and Matsu and China's ports of Xiamen and Fuzhou. Issues concerning direct cross-strait travel for religious pilgrimages would also be touched upon, Wang said.
"This communication will help us obtain the information we need to know and smooth the operation of the panel," Wang said.
Wang said the panel would discuss next week whether to send a delegation to visit China.
According to an outline of the panel's mission confirmed yesterday, it may invite heads of the National Security Council and National Security Bureau, concerned ministers and representatives from other related institutions to brief it.
If necessary, the group may invite concerned agencies to brief it when the formulation of major cross-strait polices is under way. The panel may also invite negotiators in charge of cross-strait talks for discussion before the meetings start. Meanwhile, the panel will promote visits and exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
The DPP caucus in the legislature has decided not to participate in the group, accusing opposition legislators of trying to "usurp executive power" in its establishment of the panel.
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