Negotiations with China over the opening of Taiwan to Chinese tourists at the end of the year will not be affected by Chad's recognition of Beijing, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday.
Council Vice Chairman Liu Te-shun (劉德勳) said the government would not target projects under discussion with China, including changes allowing Chinese tourists into the country.
"The [tourism] negotiations have proceeded to a certain extent. The government will continue communicating [with the Chinese authorities]," Liu said.
Asked whether the council would permit the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), to come to Taiwan in October, Liu said the Chad incident would play a role in the government's decision to grant permission.
"Before Chad established diplomatic relations with Beijing, there was already a lot of public opinion opposed to Chen coming to Taiwan. The council will also take the Chad factor into account," he said.
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