China Media Group released its picks for the top 10 cross-Taiwan Straits-related news of 2023 on Friday. Here are the selected stories.
1. Forums on cross-Straits development held
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, sent congratulatory letters to the 15th Straits Forum, the sixth cross-Straits youth development forum, and the 2023 annual conference of the summit for entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Straits, respectively, which drew positive feedback across the Taiwan Straits.
The opening ceremony of the sixth cross-Straits youth development forum is held in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, September 15, 2023. /Xinhua
2. Biden reaffirms U.S. does not support 'Taiwan independence'
President Xi had a candid and in-depth exchange of views with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in November in San Francisco, where Biden reiterated Washington's adherence to one-China policy and that it does not support "Taiwan independence."
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at Filoli Estate in the U.S. state of California, November 15, 2023. /Xinhua
3. China to set up cross-Straits integrated development demonstration zone
China said it will make Fujian Province a demonstration zone for the integrated development across the Taiwan Straits, according to a circular jointly issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council in September, hoping to deepen the cross-Straits integrated development in all fields and advance the peaceful reunification of the motherland. Relevant measures have been gradually put into effect.
Officials from the State Council Information Office speak at a press conference on September 14, 2023. /CMG
4. Ministry of Commerce finds that Taiwan's trade-restrictive measures against mainland constitute trade barriers
The Ministry of Commerce announced the conclusion of a trade barrier investigation, which found that Taiwan's trade-restrictive measures against the mainland constitute trade barriers, and thus brought negative influence to some mainland industries and companies. Later, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that the Chinese mainland will suspend tariff reductions on some products from the Taiwan region.
Screenshot of the statement by Ministry of Commerce. /CMG
5. PLA Eastern Theater Command launches patrol, military exercises around Taiwan island
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan island on April 8 to 10, which served as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and external forces and against their provocative activities.
The artillery weapons of the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA simulating the launch of precision strikes during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island, April 9, 2023. /Xinhua
6. Mainland resumes entry of Taiwan sugar apples, grouper fish
Exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan on all fronts were restored rapidly in the post-COVID period. Specifically, the Chinese mainland announced the resumption of the import of Taiwan sugar apples and grouper fish after relevant examinations.
Taiwan's sugar apples. /CFP
7. Ma Ying-jeou visits mainland
A delegation led by Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, traveled to the mainland in late March to early April. He visited the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, the tomb of his grandfather in the county of Xiangtan in Hunan Province, and attended a series of communication and exchange activities.
Ma Ying-jeou visits the tomb of his grandfather with his family in Shuangyang Village of Chaensi Town in Xiangtan County, central China's Hunan Province, April 1, 2023. /Xinhua
8. Symposiums held to mark anniversary of historic Wang-Koo Talks
Symposiums were held in April to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Wang-Koo Talks, a historic meeting that marked a major step forward for cross-Straits relations, in places including Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A symposium is held in Shanghai to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Wang-Koo Talks. /CMG
9. Honduras severs 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan
Honduras announced in March that it decided to sever its so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan region and established diplomatic relations with China.
Yu Bo (L), charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Honduras, and Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Reina inaugurate the opening of the Chinese embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, June 5, 2023. /Xinhua
10. Word of 2023 across Taiwan Straits
Chinese character "融(rong)," which means "integration," was picked as the word of the year for 2023 across the Taiwan Straits and the Chinese character "缺(que)," which means "lack" or "be short of," was selected as the the word of the year for 2023 in Taiwan region. This reflects the common aspirations of the people on both sides and the prospects of cross-Straits relations, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in December.
Chinese character "缺(que)," which means "lack" or "be short of," was selected as the the word of the year for 2023 in Taiwan. /CMG