The root of the problem is a deadlock over China's demand that Taiwan accept the "one China" principle -- that there is only one China, incorporating Taiwan and the mainland -- before reunification talks resume.
Beijing considers Taiwan a rebel province and has vowed to attack if it declared statehood or delayed reunification talks.
Chen has refused to accept the one China principle as Taiwan regards itself as a sovereign state.
Defining one China
Beijing says talks on the three links should be conducted between civil institutions and companies on the basis of one China.
"That does not mean Taiwan authorities have to explicitly recognize one China or put it in writing," said the CASS researcher. "But we cannot talk to anybody opposed to one China."
The trouble is the two cannot agree what "one China" means.
Beijing and Taipei have been arguing for years over whether they reached agreement in talks in Hong Kong in 1992.
Beijing argues that the two sides agreed that there is one China, of which the island is an inseparable part. Chen Shui-bian says the two sides merely "agreed to disagree".
So choosing representatives is just the tip of the iceberg.
The two sides then have to discuss the agenda, including such issues as whether direct flights should be considered domestic or international and whether planes and ships should bear flags.
And once representatives reach the negotiating table, more often than not they see a dagger behind every smile.
In landmark talks in Singapore in 1993, negotiators bickered over petty issues, such as whether they should hold a joint news conference or hold their own, and who should go first.
"Slowly the two sides are trying to create the right atmosphere for dialogue," said political commentator Wang Ming-yi (王玉雲).
"They have not reached the stage where they are ready to send envoys," he said.
"But when they reach the dialogue stage, old political animosity will emerge again," Wang said.
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