Xiamen Mayor Zhu Yayan (朱亞衍) accepted an invitation from Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) to visit Taiwan yesterday.
A spokesperson for the Koahsiung city government said, however, that the proposed trip is likely to be rejected by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) for what she termed "legal problems."
Spokesperson Kuan Pi-ling (管碧玲) confirmed that the city government has received a faxed document from the Xiamen mayor expressing his desire to lead a delegation to visit Taiwan for "cultural and economic exchanges."
However, Kuan told the Taipei Times Zhu's proposed visit, scheduled for July 18-20, "may have problems" because of legal procedures required by the MAC.
The laws of Taiwan bar its officials from visiting China and China's officials from visiting Taiwan.
Exchanges are allowed to take place for semi-official, academic or technical reasons, and application must be submitted two months in advance.
Kuan said she has contacted the chairperson of the MAC, Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), to review the options open to allow the Xiamen mayor's proposed trip but has yet to submit the necessary documents for approval.
"We would follow the MAC suggestions, which is that his visit would be in a technical capacity," Kuan said, adding that both Tsai and her deputy Lin Chong-pin (林中斌) said the proposed trip involves legal issues.
The Xiamen mayor accepted Frank Hsieh's invitation to visit Kaohsiung after Hsieh cancelled his proposed visit to the Chinese coastal city due to foot-dragging by the Cabinet in ratifying the trip.
Beijing further undermined the visit when it attached five conditions, demanding the acceptance of the "one China" principle by Taiwan authorities embarking on official visits to China.
Tsai was reserved on Zhu's overture yesterday, saying "it is too early to say" whether the government would approve the visit.
Frank Hsieh said in Kaohsiung he is unclear whether Zhu's visit will be approved, but said it would be "impolite" if the trip is again rejected by the MAC.
"Cross-strait relations should move towards reconciliation and goodwill," Hsieh said, emphasizing he will carry out the same principle when he takes over as DPP chairman on July 22.
He previously admitted that the possibility for him to visit China would be slimmer after he steps in his new post later this month.
On Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) welcomed cross-strait exchanges between mayors and other municipality or city officials, saying the "one China" principle is not a problem, that is, as long as Taiwan is willing to accept it.
"`One China' is a principle, concept and foundation, it should not interfere with the details of cross-strait relations," he told a group of visiting New Party legislators.
"If Taiwan must discuss the details of `one China,' it just shows that it does not accept the `one China' principle."
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