China News Service, Taipei, February 7. After the two elections in Taiwan in 2024, the situation of cross-strait non-governmental exchanges has attracted attention from all walks of life. Looking back at the results of exchanges and looking forward to the progress in the new year, public opinion in Taiwan points out that people-to-people exchanges will help ease the cross-strait atmosphere, and that exchanges and dialogue are imperative, and the Taiwan authorities need to advance them pragmatically.
2023 is the year when cross-strait exchanges resumed after the COVID-19 epidemic, and many exchange mechanisms were restored. "United Daily News" statistics show that last year, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan, Matsu County Mayor Wang Zhongming, Taitung County Mayor Rao Qingling and many other county mayors "landed" one after another and visited Hangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing, Huzhou and other places, including cities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Inter-exchange mechanisms include the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum, the "West Lake·Sun Moon Lake" Lakes Forum, etc., as well as the newly established Cross-Strait Port City Forum. Many county mayors have communicated with the mainland on issues such as cross-strait agriculture, fishery, or food. Among them, the problem of resuming shipments of Kinmen sorghum wine and Taitung custard apples to the mainland has been resolved.
The lively exchanges between people are also reflected in the surge in cases of Taiwan Straits Exchange Foundation serving the people. According to statistics from the SEF, there were a total of 365,538 cases of serving the people in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 55.3%. The number of "acceptance of new application document verification cases" hit an 11-year high, with "marriage purposes" increasing by 175.1% and "relative visit purposes" increasing by 703.6%.
Looking forward to the cross-Strait exchanges in the new year, all walks of life expressed their expectations and called on the DPP authorities to loosen restrictions on exchanges and engage in pragmatic and effective communication with the mainland.
Wang Mingxiang, the newly elected eighth chairman of the Taiwan Federation of Industry and Commerce not long ago, has listed promoting economic and trade exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits and Hong Kong and Macao as one of his key tasks; Lin Bofeng, chairman of the Taiwan Three Third Association, recently pointed out that cross-strait relations must first open up Communication, only with communication can there be exchanges, and only with exchanges can problems be solved. We look forward to the new administration reestablishing cross-strait communication channels and loosening restrictions on cross-strait economic, tourism, and cultural exchanges; Cai Yanming, chairman of Want Want Group, was also at the Spring Festival Gala held recently. Publicly call on the DPP authorities to consider the future of the Taiwanese people and start cross-strait exchanges.
"Such an appeal not only reflects the aspirations of the majority of the people, but also reminds the DPP authorities that as global geopolitical conflicts continue to rise, they must not follow the mainland policy of the past eight years, which has led to a spiral of cross-strait hostility that has continued to rise, leaving Taiwan with Wrong strategies pay many unnecessary political, economic and social costs." Taiwan's "Business Times" editorial responded. The commentary suggested that the DPP authorities should open the door for mainland professionals to come to Taiwan as soon as possible to increase opportunities for cross-strait contact and dialogue. At the same time, they should lift the ban on unnecessary trips to the mainland and treat mainlanders in Taiwan well.
Deng Dai-hsien, secretary-general of the Taiwan Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Cultural Exchange Association, recently pointed out in a comment titled "'Dialogue' needs a foundation of mutual trust, 'exchange' needs good-faith measures" that the new administration needs to show goodwill and restore cross-strait exchange measures to pre-epidemic levels . At the same time, we should establish a basis of mutual trust for dialogue with the mainland, use our wisdom and communicate with the mainland through various channels.
"I believe that most people in Taiwan agree that the cornerstone of Taiwan's survival lies in the quality of cross-strait relations." The above-mentioned commentary in the "Business Times" pointed out that the results of the two elections in Taiwan mean that 60% of the people are opposed to the DPP's "anti-China" line expressed doubts and hoped that the new administration would consider the public opinion of the majority, abandon ideology, pragmatically promote cross-Strait exchanges, and create a peaceful and stable development environment for both sides of the Strait. (over)