21:13, 19-Apr-2018
Cross-Strait Relations: Communications hampered after Tsai Ing-wen takes office
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Cross-Strait relations have been turbulent since Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen took office. Tsai was sworn in on May 20, 2016. The new authorities refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which affirms the One-China principle.
On September 29th of that year, as chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen issued a letter to party members, publicly calling for resistance to pressure from the mainland.
A phone call between Tsai and US President-elect Donald Trump on December 2nd worsened the situation.
More than two months later, President Trump told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a telephone conversation that his administration would adhere to the One-China policy. Because of the increased risks to Cross-Strait ties, fewer mainland tourists are visiting Taiwan, which has adversely impacted people-to-people exchanges.
About 1.75 million people from the Chinese mainland visited Taiwan from January to August last year, down by over a third year-on-year, according to the local tourism authority.