Chronologies
China - Taiwan
Chronology from Jan 2003 to Mar 2003
: Lien Chan accepts KMT nomination; says, if elected, he will open direct trade and make “journey of peace” to mainland.
: PRC authorizes overflights by Taiwan airlines during war in Iraq.
: SEF Chairman Koo says he will attend Singapore anniversary conference if Beijing permits ARATS Chairman Wang to attend.
: Taipei Times says PRC adopts new regulations requiring Taiwan Association officials in China to support “one China” principle.
: Taipei criticizes World Health Organization (WHO) for not aiding Taiwan with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) emergency.
: Premier Yu Shyi-kun tells Legislative Yuan (LY) that changing name would be destabilizing.
: Chinese Premier Wen adopts moderate tone on Taiwan in his first press conference.
: Taipei Board of Foreign Trade expresses concern that 25 percent of Taiwan’s exports went to PRC and Hong Kong in 2002.
: President Chen expresses appreciation but declines invitation.
: Beijing protests European Parliament invitation to Chen Shui-bian.
: Former President Lee proposes changing name to “Republic of Taiwan.”
: Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao discusses Taiwan issue with NPC delegates in standard terms.
: Press reports DoD official Mary Tighe, National Intelligence Officer for East Asia, in Taipei for talks on missile defenses.
: The 10th National People’s Congress (NPC) convenes in Beijing to approve the new leadership, including incoming President Hu Jintao and new Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.
: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s final National Petroleum Council (NPC) report repeats standard PRC policy on Taiwan.
: Former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Richard Bush’s speech questions Taiwan’s delay in arms purchases.
: President Chen tells DPP group that full-fledged direct travel is out of question.
: Kuomintang (KMT) and People’s First Party (PFP) sign agreement to cooperate in presidential election.
: MAC welcomes Singapore University’s joint invitations to Straits Exchange Federation’s (SEF) Koo Chen-fu and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Wang Daohan for a conference on 10th anniversary of Koo-Wang talks.
: United States-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference 2003 is held in San Antonio, Texas.
: MAC Vice Chair Liu Johnnason Liu warns against risks of direct travel.
: Chinese Petroleum Corp. and China National Offshore Oil Corporation report both government’s approval of oil exploration plan.
: PRC dissident seeks asylum in Taiwan.
: President Chen urges business to invest in Taiwan before mainland.
: Washington nixes Taiwan invitation to U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton.
: China Airlines makes first Taiwan charter flight to Shanghai.
: Vice Premier Qian urges early opening of direct travel.
: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company gets preliminary approval for investment in PRC.
: President Chen tells U.S. visitors not to expect early progress on three links.
: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) official Chen Chung-shin begins private trip to China.
: Taipei fines three companies for computer chip investments in Shanghai.
: At inter-parliamentary meeting in Taipei, Chen urges Asian cooperation to promote democracy in China.
: Vice Premier Qian Qichen addresses national conference on Taiwan affairs.
: PRC blocks Taiwan NGO participation in International Telecommunication Union-sponsored meeting.
: Former President Lee Teng-hui calls for a new constitution for Taiwan.
: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chair Tsai Ing-wen calls for caution on three links.
: Vice President Annette Lu says direct travel to PRC will harm Taiwan.
: State Department confirms U.S. has told Israel to limit strategic sales to PRC.