In a visit paid to Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday, the chairman of Chinatrust Bank, Jeffrey Koo (辜濂淞), said he hopes the government can minimize political interference in the "direct three links" issue, Tsai told reporters afterward.
Koo led a delegation of the San San Group (三三會), which consists of many Taiwan business tycoons, to China on July 5.
During the trip to China, Koo reportedly visited Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) and the director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Yunlin (陳雲林).
Koo's visit with Tsai yesterday is regarded as significant because Koo is the nephew of Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫), who is also a former ambassador-at-large.
After the meeting with Koo, Tsai recounted Koo's remarks to reporters.
"He expressed his concern regarding the direct three links and said that he hopes the government could minimize political interference on the issue," Tsai said.
Tsai said Koo fully understands the government's stance on negotiations regarding the direct three links. "He is fully aware of the real situation and the government's difficulties," she said.
Asked whether Koo had conveyed any messages from China about Beijing's policy toward Taiwan, Tsai said "no."
Tsai added that Koo conveyed Taiwan businesspeople's view that "the uncertainty surrounding China's investment guidelines and the frequent reshuffling of the related Chinese high-ranking officials, have made investment in China difficult."
Tsai said the MAC has continuously collected information through people who visited China -- to understand such visitors' needs as well as Chinese policies toward Taiwan.
"We will meet representatives from some Taiwan delegations that had visited China this month," she said.
However, she declined to elaborate on the issues that would be discussed and whom she would meet.
"We do not have any final conclusions about Chinese people's attitude toward Taiwan, but we will continue to observe," she said.
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