Kamal Ghorui
China on Sunday announced plans to restore select suspended ties with Taiwan, including direct flights to more mainland cities and the resumption of imports of Taiwanese aquaculture products.The announcement came as senior leaders from China’s ruling Communist Party and Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang held talks, signalling a possible thaw in limited areas of engagement.China’s Taiwan Work Office said it would explore establishing a “longstanding communication mechanism” with the Kuomintang and facilitate the import of Taiwanese aquaculture goods, which had been restricted in recent years, reported AP.The move follows a high-level meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun, where both sides called for peace but did not outline specific steps.As part of the measures, Beijing said it plans to resume direct flights between Taiwan and additional mainland cities such as Xi’an and Urumqi, though details on implementation remain unclear. China had earlier curtailed travel links, including banning individual tourist visits to Taiwan in 2019.Trade restrictions are also set to be eased. China had imposed bans on a range of Taiwanese agricultural and seafood products since 2021, including pineapples, grouper fish, squid and tuna. The latest announcement signals a partial rollback of those curbs.Beijing also reiterated plans to advance infrastructure proposals such as a bridge linking mainland China with Taiwan-controlled islands including Matsu and Kinmen, a project previously floated by Chinese authorities.Cross-strait relations have remained strained since 2016, when Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, following which Beijing suspended most official dialogue and increased military activity around the island.Responding to the developments, Taiwan said it would continue efforts to help its farmers and businesses diversify export markets to reduce dependence on China.
