China announces it will restore certain links with Taiwan following opposition leader’s visit

(SeaPRwire) –   On Sunday, China announced the restoration of certain suspended ties with Taiwan, including the resumption of direct flights and the lifting of import bans on Taiwanese aquaculture goods, following a visit by the leader of the island’s Beijing-aligned opposition party.

The Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office stated it intends to investigate the establishment of a permanent communication channel between the Communist Party and Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT). Additionally, the office confirmed it would facilitate the importation of Taiwanese aquaculture products that had previously been prohibited.

KMT leader Cheng Li-wun and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Friday in a high-profile session, where both sides advocated for peace without providing specific details. China maintains its claim over the self-governed island and has not renounced the potential use of force to achieve reunification.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the agency responsible for cross-strait relations, characterized the announced measures—such as the proposed communication mechanism—as “political transactions” between parties that bypass the Taiwanese government.

“The government’s position is clear: to ensure the interests of the nation and its people, all Cross-Strait affairs involving public power must be negotiated by both governments on an equal and dignified basis to be effective and truly protect the rights and well-being of the people,” the Mainland Affairs Council stated in response to Beijing’s announcement.

Relations between China and Taiwan, which have been divided since 1949, have deteriorated since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who represents the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. Beijing subsequently severed most official dialogue with the Taiwanese government and has increased its military presence, frequently deploying warships and fighter jets near the island.

In its statement, China indicated plans to restart direct flights between Taiwan and mainland cities such as Xi’an and Urumqi, though the logistics of implementing these flights without the Taiwanese government’s authorization remain uncertain.

Since 2019, China has prohibited its citizens from traveling to Taiwan as individual tourists. Current Taiwanese regulations mandate that Chinese visitors possess a valid resident visa from a third country, such as those in the U.S. or the European Union, to be eligible for a visitor visa.

Furthermore, China expressed its intention to pursue the construction of a bridge linking the mainland to the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu, which are geographically closer to China. This infrastructure project is a recurring proposal previously put forward by Beijing.

China initiated a ban on Taiwanese pineapples in 2021, subsequently expanding the restrictions to include various fruits and seafood products, such as tuna, squid, and grouper.

Following the initial grouper ban, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture attempted to engage with China to address import compliance issues. China responded by providing a restricted list of specific companies permitted to export to the mainland, though it offered no further explanation for the selection.