Wang responded that the government was unlikely to initially allow Beijing to set up 10 offices and that the number of offices would be negotiated at cross-strait meetings and decided by “the needs of both sides.”
“However, the council will not permit the ARATS to establish a representative office in all of Taiwan’s administrative regions,” Wang said.
As to whether Taiwan could unfurl its national flag at such offices, Wang said that China had yet to respond to the matter, but both sides would continue to deliberate the issue.
In related news, SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉) left for China yesterday to see how Taiwan-owned companies in the cities of Chengdu and Chongqing are faring.
Prior to his departure, Kao said that Beijing is prioritizing the development of western China, and Chongqing and Chengdu are high on its investment list.
“Many of our electronics manufacturers have invested in the two cities and we’d like to know how they’re doing,” Kao said.
Kao, who is traveling with a delegation of SEF officials and trade experts, said he will meet senior executives of Taiwanese businesses in Chengdu and Chongqing to discuss any problems they may be having and if they need the SEF’s assistance.
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