China's willingness to deal with the "Travel Agency Association of the Republic of China, Taiwan" in talks for opening up the nation to Chinese tourists is a breakthrough in cross-strait relations, a Mainland Affairs Council official said yesterday.
The official said the development demonstrated that cross-strait negotiations are not necessarily always complicated and a deal on Chinese tourists could be reached so long as both sides can set aside their differences, lay no preconditions, and act pragmatically.
Fu Don-cheng (
Following the council's June 28 announcement that the Chinese authorities had agreed to deal with the association, local Chinese-language newspapers reported on June 30 that the title of the association might hinder the proceedings, as Chinese officials were unhappy about the "Republic of China" phrase in its title.
The reports also said that the association had prepared to alter its title to conform to Chinese demands, and offered alternative titles such as the "Association of Travel Agents of Taiwan." But the head of the association, Tseng Sheng-hai (
Fu said that he didn't think it was a good idea to discuss the title of the association, noting that doing so would politicize the issue.
"The method by which direct Lunar New Year flights were negotiated is a very good reference for the tourism negotiations," Fu said.
Chiu Tai-san (
Echoing Chiu, Fu said that only when both sides are willing to open Taiwan to Chinese tourists and set aside unimportant matters, such as the formal title of the association, will a consensus on the issue be reached.
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