bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Lawrence Chung

 
Taiwan will face a tough challenge staunching what could be an even bigger brain drain and exodus of investment to the mainland after Beijing’s latest offer of economic sweeteners to lure Taiwanese, analysts warned. 
“More young people who have complained about low pay in Taiwan or who want to find a bigger market for development would choose to work on the mainland because of the incentives,” said Chang Wu-ueh, a professor at Tamkang University’s China Study Institute. 

In what analysts called an offensive designed to counter Taiwan’s attempts to declare independence, Premier Li Keqiang promised in his government work report delivered at the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress that the mainland would expand economic and cultural exchanges. 
The aim would be to gradually allow Taiwanese to receive the same treatment as mainlanders while studying, doing business, working or living on the mainland, Li said in the report. 
Beijing unveils measures giving Taiwanese ‘equal rights’ on mainland
Stressing the importance of both the “one-China” principle and safeguarding China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Li said Beijing would not tolerate separatist schemes and activity in support of the independence movement on the self-ruled island. 

Li’s report followed an announcement by Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office last week of 31 measures that would give Taiwanese companies and individuals freer access to opportunities and benefits across the strait. 
Taipei sends US experts to diplomatic front line to ward off Beijing
The measures would relax access to mainland markets for Taiwanese films, television programmes and books. Under the moves, Taiwanese professionals would also be free to join mainland-based industry associations or study for any of 134 professional qualifications. 
Beijing, which has long offered sweeteners to the people of Taiwan, has considered the island a wayward province subject to eventual union, if necessary by force. 

It has suspended official exchanges and talks with Taipei since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016 and rejected the one-China principle. 
Analysts said that compared with previous incentives, the latest offer would be more comprehensive and systematic in attracting Taiwanese talent, enterprises, associations and artists to develop on the mainland.
Has the time for easy Taiwan reunification already passed?
However, it might take some time for Taiwanese to become re-established in practice through various levels of mainland government and authority, the analysts said. 

Beijing could be expected to continue to offer incentives to Taiwanese to recruit talent and acquire the island’s latest technology and investment, Chang said. 
The newcomers “would eventually grow roots on the mainland”, he said. 
Shawn Yue apologises for website listing Taiwan, Hong Kong as countries
Su Chi, a former secretary general of the National Security Council, said the sweeteners would “definitely have a great impact on Taiwanese, many of whom would be moved over to the mainland”. 
The benefits might lead to Taiwan becoming further divided as more people call for closer links with Beijing, Su said. 

In a sign of how the incentives have worried the Tsai government, Premier William Lai on Friday announced the launch of a task force to devise measures to retain local talent and investors. 
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has cautioned the public to be wary of incentives from Beijing that it said were politically motivated.


Why ‘relaxing’ Beijing meetings are a thing of the past for Hong Kong delegates

Is China headed for a diplomatic crisis of its own making?

How changing seasons can mean life or death in one of China’s most polluted cities

So who’s really in charge at China’s central bank? New double-headed leadership team muddies the waters

China's Two Sessions 2018

Taipei faces brain drain as Beijing dangles ‘equal status’ offers

Analysts called Beijing’s latest offer to lure Taiwanese talent to the mainland comprehensive and systematic. Photo: EPA

This picture taken on December 11, 2017 shows Taiwanese 3D film director Charlie Chu displaying a poster of his latest work, Formosa 3D, during an interview in Taipei. From the migration of purple butterflies to the crafting of bamboo steam baskets, Taiwan's leading 3D film director has spent a decade painstakingly capturing the island's beauty. / AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH / TO GO WITH STORY TAIWAN-FILM-3D-ENTERTAINMENT-CULTURE, BY MICHELLE YUN

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 23, 2017 shows tourists walking past statues of the late nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek at a park in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan. Tributes to Taiwan's former dictator Chiang Kai-shek will be removed across the island after lawmakers voted in favour of the mandatory axing of symbols of its authoritarian past. / AFP PHOTO / SAM YEH

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers his speech during the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (C) is escorted by Foreign Minister David Lee (L) and Chairman of the Taiwan Prospective Foundation Chen Tan-sun while attending the Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue in Taipei on August 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Sam YEH

epa06415979 Taiwan's national flag flies at the Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, 04 January 2018. According to media reports, on 04 January 2018 Taiwan protested China's four flight routes in the Taiwan Strait which theaten the safety of international flights. The four routes are M503, which is close to the center line in the Taiwan Strait plus routes W121, W122 and W123 which interfere with Taiwanese flights from Taiwan proper to Taiwan-held islets of Kinmen and Matsu off China's Fujian Province. 'China's unilaterally launching these four routes on the same day endagers safety of international flights. We urge China to immediately stop using these flight routes and hold consultations with Taiwan. If China goes ahead with the plan, it has to bear grave consequences on cross-Strait ties,' Mainland Affairs Council Minister Catherine Chang told a news conference. China proposed the new flights routes in 2015, saying it was necessary to burden on exicisting routes and cut flight

News

China

Politics

The prospect of higher pay and bigger markets lures more Taiwanese workers to the mainland, analysts say


China's Two Sessions 2018: All Articles

China's Two Sessions 2018: What's Changing