On the eve of the first anniversary of last year's Economic Development Advisory Conference (EDAC), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced that it has implemented 41 of the conference's 49 resolutions concerning cross-strait relations, saying that the council has pushed cross-strait exchanges to "a new stage."
Fu Don-cheng (傅棟成), the director of the MAC's department of economic affairs, told reporters at a press conference that "the council has executed 41 items. Eight remain to be completed."
The EDAC wrapped up on Aug. 25 last year.
"The work has proceeded smoothly. We have done what we can," Fu stressed.
Since last year's conference, the MAC has eased restrictions on various cross-strait exchanges -- such as lifting a ban on eight-inch chipmakers to set up plants in China, opening direct transactions between banks on the two sides, allowing Chinese nationals to tour Taiwan and allowing Chinese citizens to come to Taiwan to invest in real estate.
According to Fu, among the proposals that have yet to be implemented, apart from the measure to open Taiwan to Chinese capital which is before through the Legislative Yuan, many of them have stalled due to China's refusal to cooperate or negotiate with Taiwan.
For example, according to the evaluation report released by the MAC, the government has proposed a plan to gradually push for direct transportation between Taiwan and China, but the matter "gets embroiled in matters of national security, the laws of the two sides and rights of jurisdiction, necessitating cross-strait talks."
"As for the direct transportation issue, the government has shown great goodwill and flexibility, we hope China can respect the spirit and laws of democracy and look for a negotiation model that acceptable to both sides of the Strait," Fu said.
MAC officials say that China's refusal to go back to the negotiation table is the main reason that the cross-strait direct transportation hasn't materialized.
As to the so-called 1992 consensus on "one China," EDAC members had suggested that the government resolve the disputes as soon as possible.
Fu said, however, "The ruling and opposition parties have exchanged opinions a few times. I believe the issue needs to be negotiated by the party leaders first."
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