Chinese delegations' impact worries Ma: report

He has asked that fewer official delegations from China be arranged to set foot on Taiwan until after the election in January 2012, according to local media reports.

He is worried that “grass-roots” people may have bad impressions from the presence of too many of these delegations, the reports said.

Liu Teh-hsun, deputy chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), declined to comment on the reports.

But he noted that delegations formed by China's local government or communist party officials have been creating much media hype and inviting diverse opinions from Taiwanese people.

The MAC will use such exchanges to facilitate mutual understanding, he said.

Currently, the MAC is processing an application for a visit by a delegation from Shandong province, eastern China, the deputy chairman said.

He said there are no other cases being processed at the moment, but he did not say whether there will more in the near future.

The Shandong visitors are scheduled to arrive in mid July to promote the “hometown of Confucius,” according to the Central News Agency. Confucius was a native of Shandong.

The delegation will take part in a symposium on Confucius, and a festival promoting a local Shandong beer.

They will also place orders for purchases of Taiwan products.

Many official delegations from across the Taiwan Strait have set foot on Taiwan since Ma adopted a China-friendly policy.

But the opposition camp and its supporters have accused the Ma administration of kowtowing to China.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

PrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email