Taipei Times
Date: Mar 31, 2016
By: Reuters, Beijing

The Chinese government yesterday warned Taiwan that the passage of a proposed new law governing cross-strait relations could seriously damage the basis for talks, and that Beijing opposed any obstacles to developing ties.

China has regarded Taiwan with suspicion since president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won January’s presidential and legislative elections on the back of a wave of anti-China sentiment.

In 2014, Sunflower movement protesters fearful of China’s growing economic and political influence occupied the Legislative Yuan’s main chamber for weeks, demanding more transparency.

The protests over the 2013 cross-strait service trade agreement, which aimed to open up investment from both sides in industries such as banking, healthcare and tourism, were the largest display of anti-China sentiment in Taiwan in years.

The DPP is proposing that the legislature first passes a so-called cross-Taiwan Strait supervision law before it considers agreeing to the trade pact.    [FULL  STORY]