In line with growing economic interdependence between mainland China and Taiwan, the 2 cross-straits non-governmental organizations – the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) resumed talks on 12 June, after a 10-year gap. Both sides agreed to resume the emergency liaison officer system to effectively handle emergency cases related to life and safety of property of people on both sides. Discussions were also held on starting weekend chartered flights, setting up of representative offices, and tapping the tourist potential of Taiwan1. The chartered flights, which had started in 2003, were suspended in 2004 due to disagreement over operation details between the two sides. Thereafter in 2005, an agreement was reached to allow both mainland and Taiwan airlines to operate direct non-stop flights2.

China had on its part stated that it had no objection to non-governmental economic or cultural exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries since it took into consideration the needs of the economic development of Taiwan and had benefits for the partner nations3. However, Beijing strongly opposed direct government-to-government linkages4.

China and Japan meanwhile reached three agreements on making the East China Sea ‘a sea of peace’, including a joint development of a block in the area without undermining the legal positions of each other, and participation of Japanese companies in the cooperative exploitation of Chuanxiao field in accordance with the ‘Regulations of the People’s republic of China on the Exploitation of Offshore Petroleum Resources in Cooperation with Foreign Enterprises’. Beijing noted that this consensus was a transitional arrangement since it was difficult to resolve the demarcation issue on East China Sea within a short period of time. Reports noted that Chinese leaders had raised the concept of “putting aside disputes and making joint exploitation” to address issues of marine rights and interests as early as more than 3 decades ago5.

In other developments, for the first time after the end of World War II, a Japanese maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer arrived in China on June 24 as part of a five-day visit to deliver earthquake relief. Late in 2007, a Chinese missile
destroyer ‘Shenzhen’ had also docked in Japan. Both sides reiterated that these visits would normalize relations between the two countries and promote peace, stability, and mutual trust in the region6.

• 1. “Hu Jintao meets delegation, hails cross-Straits talks,” Xinhuanet, June 13, 2008, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/14/content_8367535.htm
• 2. “Mainland, Taiwan organizations hold first talks in 9 Years,” Xinhuanet, June 12, 2008 at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/12/content_8352205.htm
• 3. “Why does the Chinese Government have no objection to non-governmental economic or cultural exchanges between Taiwan and foreign countries?” November 15, 2000, at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ljzg/3568/t17794.htm
• 4. “What are the basic contents of the policy of “peaceful reunification; one country, two systems?” November 15, 2000, at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/ljzg/3568/t17794.htm
• 5. “Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei talks About the Principled Consensuses Reached Between China and Japan on East China Sea Issue,” June 19, 2008, at http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/wshd/t449918.htm
• 6. “Japan navy destroyer on first China visit since WWII,” 24 June, 2008, at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/24/content_8429752.htm