Editor’s Note

Chinese mainland's chief of Taiwan affairs Zhang Zhijun set off on June 25 for a four-day visit to Taiwan. He is the first director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office to visit Taiwan.

The visit has been welcomed by Taiwanese people as well as politicians, although the Taiwan authorities have indicated that no document will be signed during his trip.

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Schedule

June 25: Taoyuan

● Meet with the director of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Wang Yu-chi and discuss important cross-Straits issues

June 26: New Taipei City

● Meet with Chu Li-luan, vice-chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) and mayor of New Taipei City ● Visit the community center and public daycare center in Sijhih district ● Chat with grass-roots people, local business owners, experts, ethnic minority groups, and Taiwan residents with mainland spouses

June 27: Kaohsiung

● Meet with Chen Chu, acting chair of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kaohsiung mayor ● Visit Siadin village and dine with residents ● Visit a farm, Fo Guang Shan and drop by I-Shou University to chat with students ● Meet members of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council

June 28: Kaohsiung, Taichung, Changhua

● Visit the Cianjhen township fishing port in Kaohsiung ● Meet with Hu Chih-chiang, mayor of Taichung and vice-chairman of the Kuomintang ● Attend a ceremony in Changhua county, Lugang township

Source: Strait Herald, Xinhua, Global Times, chinapost.com.tw, taipeitimes.com

Viewpoints

Global Times: Strength key to cross-Straits goodwill
The strength of the mainland cannot be directly turned into goodwill between the two, but it can create favorable conditions for such goodwill.

To make Taiwan sense the strength of the mainland, the mainland should try to find a carrot-and-stick strategic pattern. We don't need to focus on Taiwan's responses to particular issues, but should build up its strategic perception of cross-Straits relations.

Grass roots the real key to cross-Straits relations
There are a host of miscellaneous problems regarding the Taiwan question and it is a fundamental job to tend to grass-roots Taiwanese, who constitute the most significant force determining the development direction of the island. Peaceful development of cross-Straits relations calls for wide participation and efforts by all Taiwanese compatriots. Therefore, our policy on Taiwan should be more pragmatic and flexible.

Xinhua: "One small step" across Taiwan Strait
Devoting three out of four days of a tight visit to a wide spectrum of Taiwan people says a lot about the mainland's care for the island's public opinions and its determination to relieve locals' worries.

One of the many selling points of Zhang's visit will be that mainland officials managing Taiwan affairs will see more pertinent and effective work results given the intimate knowledge about the island gathered from the trip.

Taiwan-based newspaper China Times
Zhang will seek peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and groups on the island should express their opinions in a rational way, according to an editorial in the paper.

Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao
A highlight of Zhang’s visit is meeting his Taiwan counterpart Wang Yu-chi and discussing important cross-Straits issues. The peaceful development of cross-Straits relations has reached the consolidation phase known as the “deep water zone,” where the Chinese mainland and Taiwan may encounter difficulties and divergences. The regular institutional communication platform built by the cross-Straits affairs chiefs of the mainland and Taiwan not only facilitates the communication on cross-Straits policies, but also helps to foster political mutual trust and build a consensus.

Macao Daily
Zhang Zhijun’s visit to Taiwan is the natural result of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and also reflects the Chinese mainland’s confidence in Taiwan policy. Taiwan’s newspapers and its residents are both anticipating Zhang’s visit. Even the Democratic Progressive Party has expressed their welcome. There is no doubt that Zhang’s Taiwan visit is an important opportunity to promote cross-Straits relations. The peaceful development of cross-Straits relations has positively impacted Taiwan, which will force its political powers to pay closer attention to public opinion.

Zhu Weidong, deputy director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences:
Zhu said the DPP’s attitude to Zhang’s visit is more rational and practical than before. The DPP may want to change their reputation for “always opposing the Chinese mainland,” but they may also be building a good public image before Taiwan’s leadership election.

Chang Ya-chung, professor with the Department of Political Science under Taiwan University:
Chang Ya-chung said that Zhang's visit would help set up an institutional platform to exchange visits by cross-Straits affairs officials, which is conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Cheng You-ping, professor with the Department of Public Administration and Policy of Taipei University:
Cheng You-ping said that the general trend of cross-Straits peaceful development has not been affected much by the delay of the service trade pact, and people-to-people trade exchanges across the Straits has been under steady growth.

Zhang's visit, "to our great joy," would promote interactions among the people from both sides, Cheng added.

Zhang Wenji, professor with the University of Southern California:
"The Chinese mainland and the world are undergoing drastic changes. If Taiwan fails to display goodwill, the mainland may adopt major changes in relevant policies."

Reaction

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council
The council stressed that the normalization of interaction between authorities across the Straits will promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and is in accordance with the interests of the Taiwan public, according to the Taipei-based China Times.

Taiwan's legislative head Wang Jin-pyng
"It' s a courtesy to exchange visits, and we are glad to have him come," said Wang Jin-pyng.

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