Northeast Asia Geostrategic Forum

[LowPost]

I hope they will enjoy their stay on the Mainland. Also, @TaiShang and @bobsm should get one of these as well if they haven't done so yet

 

[TaiShang]

I hope they will enjoy their stay on the Mainland. Also, @TaiShang and @bobsm should get one of these as well if they haven't done so yet

Anybody that regularly travels to the Mainland (which is by millions now) should get one to cut the paper shuffling and ensure more convenient travel.

That's another step further into de facto integration.

**

Taiwan affairs chief trusts people to make 'right choice'
September 23, 2015

The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun said Tuesday he believed the people across the Taiwan Strait will make right choice on the cross-Strait relations.

Zhang made the remarks while meeting Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Lin Join-sane in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.

Zhang, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said whether the cross-Strait relations make headway or go backwards poses a test of the resolution and wisdom of Taiwanese and mainlanders.

"I have faith that people of both sides who have experienced the different situations before and after 2008 will make the right choice," he said.

The cross-Strait relations have warmed since 2008 when a new generation of KMT leaders assumed power in Taiwan and promised to uphold the one-China 1992 Consensus and oppose Taiwan independence.

Since then, the two sides have opened direct mail, transport and trade links and signed a number of deals to boost tourism, trade and cooperation in various fields.

There are concerns as the island prepares for its leadership election next January, when KMT candidate Hung Hsiu-chu will compete with Tsai Ing-wen from the Democratic Progressive Party.

While giving a speech to mark the opening of "Taiwan Week" in Wuhan, Zhang said turning back the cross-Strait relations or separatist sabotage shall not be allowed.

He called for more opportunities for businesses on both sides and encouraging small companies and young people from Taiwan to join the mass entrepreneurship tidal wave on the mainland.

 

[Dungeness]

Taiwan people seem to be happy to have this new pass, but why Taiwanese Authority is pissed?

 

[TaiShang]

Taiwan people seem to be happy to have this new pass, but why Taiwanese Authority is pissed?

Some officials showed sour face largely due to pressure from the media and the opposition. I bet most of those guys and their family members are the first to line up and obtain the Taibaozheng.

This is especially true for KMT and its business/academia base.

I guess Mainland is always welcome in case the Taiwan administration adopted a reciprocal measure.

 

[Lure]

Electronic permits for Taiwan Compatriots


A woman from China's Taiwan shows her application form for renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)


A family from Hsin-Chu of Taiwan shows their renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong


An immigration police officer checks a renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Lukou Airport of Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)


Young people from Taiwan show their renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)


A police officer checks a woman's renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Changle Airport of Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)


A woman from Taiwan shows her renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, at Changle Airport of Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)


A woman from Taiwan (R front) fills in an application form for a renewed Taibaozheng, a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)


A police officer shows the renewed Taibaozheng (L), a passport-like document that carries the entry permits for Taibao, or Taiwan compatriots, and the former paper version of Taibaozheng in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 21, 2015. The electronic version of Taibaozheng, which is in the form of a card instead of the former paper form, is enabled on the Chinese mainland on Monday. The electronic Taibaozheng, which also serves as the certificate of identity during Taiwan residents' stay on the mainland, will bring more convenience for Taiwanese travelling between Taiwan and the mainland. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

It always make me feel extremely optimistic about the future to see how the problems can be left behind and people embrace their brotherhood.

When do you think there will be travel without Visa-like document among Mainland, HK and Taiwan? I'm sure borders will be opened.

Another thing is, a bit off topic, do you think DPP has any real chance of being elected? People's First and KMT are dividing the votes of eachother since they have very similar target group. People's First seems a bit more close to mainland tough, compared to KMT is that correct?

One final thing. Please don't let DPP ruin this brotherhood, even if they are elected.

 

[Dungeness]

And not the least the new measures will further promote the already giant cross-Strait interaction. Currently, about 1000 flights per week between the two sides.

This trend is supposed to promote the understanding and the mutual trust, but why the exact opposite is happening in recent years in Taiwan?

 

[hexagonsnow]

Goood news! wish I can have a trip for taiwan

 

[TaiShang]

When do you think there will be travel without Visa-like document among Mainland, HK and Taiwan? I'm sure borders will be opened.

Hopefully full national unification will be completed by 2025. But history is full of surprises.

Another thing is, a bit off topic, do you think DPP has any real chance of being elected? People's First and KMT are dividing the votes of eachother since they have very similar target group. People's First seems a bit more close to mainland tough, compared to KMT is that correct?

DPP has a good chance of winning the elections, at this point, although the KMT side seems to be gaining some momentum. Economic conditions are important. If pessimism takes hold, this may urge the KMT base who sees greater integration with the Mainland as the way out of Taiwan's economic woes.

One final thing. Please don't let DPP ruin this brotherhood, even if they are elected.

This time, even under a DPP leadership, will be different from the 2000s, I believe. One small segment of society is over-radicalized and blatantly anti-Mainland, but, the silent majority is being not so silent, as well, as we have witnessed in the case of text book protests. The administration did not back away from the proposal. Pro-China and pro-status-quo forces had been much more vocal.

So, even a DPP administration will be rather restrained. If they create a major crisis, they know they will not survive another election.

This trend is supposed to promote the understanding and the mutual trust, but why the exact opposite is happening in recent years in Taiwan?

The thing is all about perception. It is not worse off than the early 2000s, in fact. Over the past eight years, pro-unification and pro-status-quo circles gained significant strength, which I notice in the academia.

To see the trend, one needs to look at the hard data, which strongly suggests greater integration and mobility across the Straits.

 

[AndrewJin]

One prominent change of DPP recently is that they now recognise Republic of China!
That's great, much better than their notorious support of Republic of Taiwan.

 

[Jlaw]

One prominent change of DPP recently is that they now recognise Republic of China!
That's great, much better than their notorious support of Republic of Taiwan.

that's because all those new weapons in the parade made them scared.

 

[jkroo]

Goood news! wish I can have a trip for taiwan

Set aside money and time then you can start your trip any time.

Most of my neighbors at their 60+ have already been to Taiwan at least once.

 

[TaiShang]

Set aside money and time then you can start your trip any time.

Most of my neighbors at their 60+ have already been to Taiwan at least once.

My district in New Taibei is popular for Mainland guests Big big hot pot tables are set in front of the restaurants in the evenings and the streets are so full of life!

 

[AndrewJin]

My district in New Taibei is popular for Mainland guests Big big hot pot tables are set in front of the restaurants in the evenings and the streets are so full of life!

I still love the old name, Taibei county.
And Yonghe City, Taibei county, what a cool name!

 

[TaiShang]

China, Russia Vow to Further Coordination on Int'l Affairs
2015-10-01

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) on the sidelines of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 30, 2015. [Photo: CFP]

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Wednesday at UN headquarters in New York and vowed to further coordination on international affairs.

China attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Russia and is willing to work with Russia to ensure the success of a series of high-level visits during the year and the various conferences and exhibitions, said Wang.

As two permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and Russia maintain close communication and coordination in UN affairs and major international and regional issues, he said.

The two sides should work together to defend the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, support the United Nations' active role in international affairs, promote the peace settlement of the Syria crisis, the Iranian nuclear issue and Korean Peninsula issue, he said.

Lavrov said that this year Russia and China successfully held the World War II victory celebrations, which reflected the spirit of solidarity and showed that the World War II history cannot be forgotten.

Russia and China have a similar stance on many international and regional issues and maintain close communication and cooperation in UN affairs. Russia will further strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, said Lavrov.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Syria and the Korean Peninsula.

 

[TaiShang]

Border city works to boost China-Russia trade
Guan Yang 丨 CCTV.com

10-04-2015

The northeast China's city of Suifenhe at Russian border has been a bustling place for cross-border economic and trade activities for decades. And after the "belt and road" initiative was promoted, the small city of Suifenhe now has a big vision.

The best way barometer of foreign trade, is the number of trucks loaded with goods that go through customs every day. China's "One Belt, One Road" initiatives give attention to Russia's developments in the Far East. They depend heavily on routes here in Heilongjiang province, like the Trans-Siberian route to Russia, as well as routes for cargo transport to Europe. Suifenhe is the leading city for China-Russia trade. Customs here is prepared for a bigger role.

Chen Cuncai, supervisor of Suifenhe Customs, Heilongjiang Province said:"In order to be able to handle more freights and goods as the economic belt is developed, we've carried out the reform for integrated and paperless customs clearance, as well as increased the working hours to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week."

The city has actively supported the new national economic belt program and drawn up plans to build an open economic system. In 2013 Suifenhe became the first city in the Chinese mainland to allow the rouble to flow freely. Russian visitors were also granted visa-free visits for up to 15 days. The aim of these measures: connectivity.

In the broad vision of the "One Belt, One Road" initiatives, it all starts with connectivity. And only when infrastructure bottlenecks are eased, can the plan progress further. That's exactly what the border city has been doing: building itself into a key hub for logistics, storage and custom clearance for goods in and out of China's northeast."

Since the city is a key hub for China's opening-up to Russia and Northeast Asia, its logistics & storage system was improved in line with the initiatives; already we are seeing emerging businesses.

"We've been investing in refrigerated warehouses and logistics centers along the routes in the economic belt. The headquarters are in Suifenhe. From next month, we'll be able to ship fresh seafood from Russia to the rest of China," said Zhang Yongguo, manager of Kuyang Cold Chain Logistics,

So what do people from the neighboring countries think about China's "One Belt, One Road' initiatives? Timofey Lutsenko, manager of Contract Manager LLC, Russia said:"Most people in Russia have high expectations about China's proposal for the development on the New Silk Road program. From a business point of view: there will be more competition in the market when infrastructure is improved, but the overall economy will become more activated."

Today, with the initiatives asking many Chinese cities to establish closer economic ties with Eurasia, the city of Suifenhe has set a good example.