Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/06/18
By: Chou Yi-ling and Maubo Chang

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Taipei will see China’s decision to waive visas for Taiwan travelers as a positive development if this is done with mutual-respect to improve orderly exchanges, Wu Mei-hung (吳美紅), a spokeswoman for the Mainland Affairs Council, said Thursday.

In adjusting any practice regarding bilateral exchanges, Wu said, Beijing should acknowledge the fact that Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are governed by different administrations, and should give Taiwan due respect lest the adjustment evoke Taiwanese people’s skepticism and impact cross-strait relations negatively.

She made the remarks during a weekly news conference after Beijing announced earlier that day that Taiwanese will be allowed to visit China without a visa after July 1.

As to Beijing’s plan to convert the current booklet-form of the Taiwan Compatriot Travel Permit into a card, Wu said her council is unaware of the form, functions and would-be holder of the card thus far, and are seeking more information from Beijing before forming an opinion on it.     [FULL  STORY]