Taiwan’s ruling DPP rejected China’s offer of incentives to Taiwanese nationals, while the opposition KMT welcomed the move.

The Diplomat
Date: November 09, 2019
By: Nick Aspinwall

Taiwan’s presidential office criticized China’s “26 measures” aimed at treating Taiwanese equally to

Chinese nationals, saying they are an attempt to influence the country’s upcoming January elections.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said on Monday the new measures are aimed at facilitating “economic and cultural exchanges” between Taiwan and China. The measures include offering consular services and temporary passports to Taiwanese citizens and opening doors for Taiwanese companies to invest in Chinese projects.

Taiwan presidential office spokesperson Ting Yun-kung accused China of aiming to divide Taiwanese ahead of the country’s January elections, in which President Tsai Ing-wen faces a re-election challenge from the Beijing-friendly Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu.

The opposition Kuomintang, Han’s political party, welcomed the measures in a statement released on Tuesday, quoting the Taiwan Affairs Office release and saying it is happy to see Beijing provide “development opportunities” and “equal treatment” to Taiwanese citizens.    [FULL  STORY]