The Executive Yuan today passed a draft act that, if backed by the Legislature, would provide the legal basis for mainland China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) to establish a representative office in Taiwan.
Premier Jiang Yi-huah said enabling the ARATS and Taiwan's Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) to set up reciprocal representative offices is a key objective in Taiwan's "Golden Decade National Vision" plan. It would mark an important milestone in cross-strait ties and help foster peace development going forward.
Jiang directed the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to communicate actively with legislators to win their support, and to promptly address any concerns raised by the public. The MAC should also begin working out details for the two semi-official bodies to set up the offices.
Main points in the draft act are summarized as follows:
1. The mainland Chinese organization in charge of cross-strait civil exchanges may, with approval from the ROC's regulatory authority, set up a representative office in Taiwan. (Article 3)
2. The ROC authority should follow certain guidelines when reviewing the mainland organization's application to set up a representative office in Taiwan. (Article 4)
3. Personnel posted or hired to work at the representative office in Taiwan must be approved by the ROC authority. (Article 5)
4. The ROC authority may take necessary action against the representative office should it breach ROC laws and regulations. (Article 6)
5. The representative office may, based on the principle of reciprocity, enjoy rights and be liable for obligations within the limits prescribed by ROC laws. (Article 7)
6. Non-Taiwanese personnel approved by the ROC authority to work at the representative office in Taiwan may, based on the principle of reciprocity, be entitled to special protection and favorable treatment. (Articles 8-10)