Chronologies
China - Taiwan
Chronology from Jul 2008 to Oct 2008
: DPP member Wang Ding-yu indicted for violence against Zhang.
: ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin expresses apology over tainted milk products.
: Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Wang Yi mentions the importance of World Health Organization issue in cross-Strait relations.
: Taipei announces Lien Chan to be President Ma’s APEC representative.
: Seven Taiwan business groups issue statement welcoming Chen Yunlin visit.
: ARATS and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) hold preparatory talks in Shenzhen and announce dates for the visit to Taiwan by ARATS Chairman Chen.
: SEF reports ARATS letter apologizing for tainted milk.
: Defense News reports the U.S. is blocking the sale of items to Taiwan’s Chung Shan Institute of Science & Technology (CSIST) to stop development of the Hsiung Feng 2E land attack cruise missile program.
: Kinmen and Xiamen authorities hold joint search and recovery exercise.
: Ma Ying-jeou says he will receive ARATS Chairman Chen in his capacity as president of the Republic of China.
: China returns 13 criminals to Taiwan via Matsu Island.
: President Ma outlines “effective deterrence” strategy
: DPP-led mob harasses ARATS Vice Chairman Zhang in Tainan.
: ARATS Vice Chairman Zhang Mingqing visits Tainan for conference.
: DPP Chairperson Tsai says people don’t trust President Ma.
: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Lai Shin-yuan says there are no political issues on ARATS Chairman Chen’s Taiwan visit agenda.
: Premier Liu repeats call for a PRC apology over tainted milk.
: Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie urges U.S. to cancel arms sales to Taiwan.
: Taiwan Tourism Bureau Director Lai Seh-jen visits mainland to promote tourism.
: National Security Council Secretary General Su Chi tells Legislative Yuan that President Ma will meet ARATS Chairman Chen with “equality and dignity.”
: President Ma Ying-jeou reiterates that he will put Taiwan’s interests first in pursuing cross-Strait relations.
: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwan’s dignity must be maintained during ARATS Chairman Chen Yunlin’s visit.
: Premier Liu Chao-shiuan states that if the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) chairmen is to meet him, he must address him as “premier.”
: U.S. Department of Defense reports that China has postponed various military-to-military activities to protest U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
: The Bush administration notifies Congress of a $6.5 billion Taiwan arms package.
: The Bush administration notifies Congress of a $6.5 billion arms package for Taiwan.
: Premier Liu says China should apologize for tainted dairy exports.
: Speaker Wang again calls for LY review of cross-Strait agreements.
: Defense Minister Chen attends U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference.
: Taiwan Health Safety Delegation arrives in Beijing.
: APEC Disaster Recovery Workshop moves to Sichuan.
: Five fraud suspects repatriated under Kinmen Agreement.
: MOFA protests WHO reference to “Taiwan, China” in a report.
: Premier Liu proposes sending health safety delegation to PRC.
: ARATS and SEF officials meet in Xiamen to plan Chen visit.
: “Workshop on Large Scale Disaster Recovery in APEC” opens in Taipei.
: President Ma announces plans to recognize PRC academic degrees and to accept PRC students from 2009.
: Taipei bans all milk, diary, and protein products from China.
: UN General Committee declines to put Taiwan proposal on UNGA agenda.
: Vice President Siew is appointed to lead economic advisory group.
: Speaker Wang in Japan says relationship is a “special partnership.”
: Taipei issues ban on import of Sanlu dairy products.
: MAC proposes establishing food safety communications channel.
: MOFA says Zhonghua Taibei is name in APEC.
: DPP releases statement condemning Ma’s definition of cross-Strait relations.
: President Ma makes surprise visit to Pratas Reef.
: TAO spokesman uses Zhongguo Taipei in referring to Taiwan in APEC.
: TAO Chairman Wang Yi in Xiamen announces easing of controls on tourists and says Chen Yunlin will visit Taiwan in late October.
: Taipei says PRC students to be allowed one-year stays for studies.
: Lee Teng-hui criticizes Ma for paving way to unification.
: Press reports that Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary General Su Chi has been in the U.S. for talks.
: Taipei liberalizes visas for Chinese visitors to Kinmen & Matzu.
: In China Review Monthly, PRC scholar Xu Shiquan calls for pragmatic case-by-case approach to UN specialized agencies.
: Presidential Office sets policy of no first strike, no attack on non-military targets.
: MND says Hsiungfeng IIE’s range will not be extended to 1,000 km.
: Taipei sets 2009 defense budget at NT$315.2 billion ($10.17 billion).
: MAC Chairman Lai visits Washington.
: Presidential Office says PRC reaction should not be seen as rejection of UN specialized agencies proposal.
: PRC Vice Premier Wang Qishan meets Taiwan business delegation and says Beijing willing to consider common market proposal.
: SEF Chairman Chiang visits Japan.
: President Ma, in an interview with Mexican daily says cross-strait relations are “special non-state-to-state relations.”
: Minister of National Defense Chen says F-16s needed to replace aging F-5s.
: President Ma receives U.S. visitors and urges notification of arms packages.
: PRC Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya sends letter saying Taiwan not qualified to participate in UN specialized agencies.
: LY Vice Speaker Tseng Yung-chuan leads delegation to Thailand seeking closer ties with ASEAN.
: President Ma transits San Francisco.
: President Ma attends inauguration of President Leonel Fernandez in the Dominican Republic.
: Taiwan MOFA announces bid for participation in UN specialized agencies.
: President Ma meets Paraguay President-elect Fernando Lugo.
: Chinese Petroleum Company of Taiwan says cooperation with China National Offshore Oil Company on oil exploration in Taiwan Strait to resume.
: President Ma meets President Martin Torrijos in Panama.
: President Ma transits Los Angeles.
: DPP Chairperson Tsai says diplomatic truce equals unilateral surrender.
: KMT Chairman Wu and others attend President Hu Jintao’s luncheon for world leaders, then attend Olympics Opening Ceremony.
: President Ma visits Foreign Ministry and says priority is on participation in WHO.
: President Ma welcomes Beijing’s use of Zhonghua Taibei.
: Taiwan’s postal service votes to restore China Post name.
: Taiwan and PRC experts are simultaneously elected to World Trade Organization’s Permanent Experts Group
: Taiwan Caucus sends letter to Bush urging end to the arms freeze.
: President Bush meets international media and expresses pleasure at development of cross-Strait relations.
: President Ma visits MAC and urges more effort to bring PRC students to Taiwan.
: Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi meets Secretary Rice in Washington.
: Legislative Yuan (LY) Speaker Wang Jin-pyng arrives in Washington for consultations and reiterates Taipei’s need for F-16 aircraft.
: KMT Chairman Wu announces that he will attend Olympics.
: Xinhua, CCTV other official media begin using Zhonghua Taibei.
: Sports Minister Tai Shia-ling says teams will withdraw if Beijing Olympics organizers downgrade Taiwan using Zhongguo Taibei.
: TAO spokesman’s statement explains narrow limits of Beijing’s commitment to use Zhonghua Taibei in Olympics context.
: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urges China to display good will on terminology issue.
: SEF Chairman Chiang speaks of an eventual Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with the mainland.
: President Ma tells CNN that Taipei can’t negotiate peace agreement under missile threat.
: KMT states Chairman Wu will not attend Olympics unless Beijing adheres to Zhonghua Taibei terminology.
: SEF Chairman Chiang holds first meeting with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang.
: Taipei approves raising investment ceiling to 60 percent and exempting all firms with headquarters in Taiwan.
: Official media in Beijing continue using term Zhongguo Taibei.
: Special Investigation Unit (SIU) lists former President Chen and Madame Wu as defendants in money laundering case.
: U.S. Pacific Command Commander Adm. Keating confirms arms sales freeze.
: SEF Chairman Chiang hosts dinner for ARATS Deputy Chairman Wang Xaizi.
: KMT reiterates importance of Beijing using Zhonghua Taibei terminology.
: Foreign Minister Ou says Paraguay will be test case on diplomatic truce.
: President Ma expresses hope U.S. arms sales will proceed as originally planned.
: Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kun says economic agreement with China would help Taiwan negotiate free trade agreements.
: Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesman explains why Chinese media are free to use term Zhongguo Taibei to refer to Taiwan participants in the Olympics.
: Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains importance Taipei places on using Zhonghua Taipei translation of Chinese Taipei during Olympics.
: TAO Chairman Wang Yi urges seizing opportunity for peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.
: Association for Relations across Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Deputy Wang Zaixi arrives in Taipei for 10-day visit.
: Weekend charter flights begin, bringing first tourists from China to Taiwan.
: Legislative Yuan unfreezes funds for production of Hsiungfeng IIE land attack cruise missile (LACM).
: Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Xu Caihou says there will be no change in People’s Liberation Army readiness toward Taiwan.
: Foreign Minister Francisco Ou says Taipei will pursue “participation” in World Health Organization as a priority issue.