The 10 incentives measures for Taiwan announced by China yesterday are a tool to influence the upcoming November elections, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said today, adding that cross-strait exchanges should involve the central government and not private agreements between political parties.
China yesterday unveiled 10 new incentive measures for Taiwan, including easing tourist curbs, allowing in "healthy" television dramas and facilitating food sales, following a visit by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文).
Speaking to reporters before a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Tsai said that the main reasons the Chinese Communist Party has recently engaged with the KMT are to exercise control over peace in the Taiwan Strait and weaken Taiwan’s participation in non-red global supply chains.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
The central government should play a primary role in any cross-strait exchanges and trade, as only then can the government properly assess, plan and manage these interactions, Tsai said.
China has always proposed “preferential policies” for Taiwan during Taiwan’s major elections, covering issues from cross-strait tourism to agricultural imports, he said.
These policies are a tool for China to interfere in Taiwan’s elections as a part of its “united front” efforts, he added.
China may engage in preferential treatment during such exchanges, directing so-called “benefits” toward specific counties, companies, industries or people, Tsai said.
Future discussions should be led by the central government to avoid unnecessary risks, he added.
Ahead of the last presidential elections in early 2024, Taiwan said that China had used a series of trade measures to try to sway electors, including reviewing tariff concessions on agricultural and fishery products, machinery, auto parts and textiles.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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