China wants Taiwanese to come live and work in the mainland. As a means to this desired end, Beijing has begun drafting laws that aim to attract Taiwanese to migrate, according to a report by TaipeiTimes.com.
The proposed policies include incentives in education, employment, and state benefits, An Fengshan, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman, said on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at a bimonthly news conference.
According to An, the proposed laws’ main aim is to boost “economic and social integration between the sides.” It is unclear when the Chinese government will roll out the policies, however.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) are supportive of the proposed measures, as long as they don’t violate Taiwanese laws and would not infringe on Taiwan’s national dignity.
Furthermore, the proposed policies are welcome provided the provisions will be advantageous for both Taiwanese business investments and development in China.
The council also called on Beijing to continue enforcing the provisions laid out in the Cross-Strait Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement, which was signed in 2012.
Taiwan already enjoys considerable benefits from China, including the freedom to enter China and remain in the country for an indefinite period of time as long as their “Taiwan Compatriots Pass” is valid.
An, at the bimonthly news conference, also expressed China’s displeasure on a planned visit of an exiled Chinese ethnic minority leader, Rebiya Kadeer, to Taiwan by the invitation of the Taiwan Solidarity Union.
“We are resolutely opposed to Rebiya Kadeer engaging in activities in Taiwan in any form. In inviting this person to Taiwan, Taiwanese independence forces are seeking to create an incident that is sure to undermine relations between the sides,” An said according to TaipeiTimes.com.
Rebiya Kadeer, an advocate of rights for the Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang, was imprisoned in China for more than five years and was eventually exiled to the U.S. in 2005.