A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the
State Council yesterday denied Hong Kong media reports that
identity cards will be issued to replace the permits currently used
by Taiwan residents to travel to the mainland.
The reports are "totally groundless," Li Weiyi, spokesman for
the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press
conference.
To safeguard the rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots,
relevant departments on the mainland have developed policies and
implemented measures to facilitate the movement of Taiwan residents
into and out of the mainland for study and work, Li said.
"We'll continue to do so in the future but have no plan to
replace the permits with ID cards," Li said.
As for Taiwan journalists stationed on the mainland, Li said
that mainland authorities have extended the time they are allowed
to stay per visit to three months, with multiple entry
privileges.
Li also disclosed that the Kuomintang Party (KMT) has asked the
ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to review
its denial of a planned visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, minister of
the Taiwan Affairs Office.
Chen Yunlin was scheduled to visit Taipei in mid-December for a
high-level forum between the Communist Party of China and the KMT
but the DPP administration rejected the KMT's application last
month.
Li stressed that Chen Yunlin's visit is aimed at promoting
mutual understanding, peace and stability across the Taiwan
Straits.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 15, 2005)
