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Taiwan must not simply consider China as a threat: MAC head

ROC Central News Agency

09/01/20 21:58:59

By Luis Yu

Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan said Tuesday that Taiwan should not cut itself off from dealings with China and should no longer treat the country as simply a threat, describing it at the present stage of cross-Taiwan Strait relations as a source of potential opportunity.

Lai made the remarks during a speech at a monthly luncheon hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.

"In the face of the rapidly changing international situation and mainland China's rise, the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan will continue to carry out its mainland policy with an active and steady hand, " said Lai, adding that the essence of Taiwan's cross-strait policy is to act with a global mindset in pursuing the normalization of cross-strait relations and striving for peace and development across the Taiwan Strait.

According to Lai, Taiwanese businesses have invested a cumulative total of more than US$74.4 billion in China, making the country Taiwan's primary trade partner, export market, trade surplus source and business investment destination.

"Faced with such closeness in cross-strait relations, the Taiwanese government has the responsibility to adjust the unreasonable restrictions created by previous regulatory policies ... and to resolve the wide range of problems in order that cross-strait economic and trade relations can advance toward normalization, " said Lai.

The government will from now on act on the principle of minimizing the threat and maximizing the advantage, said Lai, adding that the MAC will continue adjusting its cross-strait opening policy to lay sound foundations for Taiwan's survival and sustainable development.

Despite the broad and complex problems stemming from cross-strait interaction, the MAC is optimistic about the future of cross-strait relations, said Lai.

"Under the preconditions of safeguarding Taiwan's sovereignty and the interests of all the people of our nation, the MAC will continue to conduct Taiwan's cross-strait policy with a view to creating a win-win outcome for both sides of the strait," Lai went on.

Since President Ma Ying-jeou took office May 20 last year, his administration has prioritized the policy goals of restoring cross-strait talks and pursuing the normalization of cross-strait economic and trade relations.

Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) held two rounds of high-level talks on June 13 and Nov. 4 last year, in which they signed six agreements covering weekend direct cross-strait charter flights, Chinese tourist visits to Taiwan, direct cross-strait air and sea cargo transport, postal cooperation and food safety.

The SEF and ARATS serve as semi-official intermediary bodies responsible for cross-strait dealings in the absence of official contacts between the two sides. The MAC supervises SEF operations.