Taiwan Business TOPICS
By Austin Babb and Jason Wu
Guidelines, Visit Show Improving U.S. Ties
U.S.-Taiwan relations are showing further signs of strengthening as Washington continues to make overt gestures of support for Taiwan. The U.S. Department of State recently released an update to guidelines regarding interactions between American diplomats and their Taiwan counterparts. In a short press statement, the State Department highlighted Taiwan as a “vibrant democracy and an important security and economic partner,” and said that the new guidelines “liberalize guidance on contacts with Taiwan.” Taiwan’s representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim and other Taiwanese officials and politicians took to Twitter to welcome the State Department’s decision.
The Liberty Times Editorial: Reset cross-strait ties with caution
Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) recently told reporters that in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, a range of cross-strait exchanges would slowly be restored, and that prioritizing a return to normality and order to the exchanges was an opportunity for Taiwan to “right the ship.”
For example, Chinese businesspeople could be allowed to apply for visas for Taiwan again, and tourist and educational exchanges could be reinstated.
Chiu reiterated that it was an opportunity to increase the number of exchanges, and to examine the situation that led to the breakdown in exchanges.
Taiwan Charges Alleged Chinese Spies With Money Laundering
A Hong Kong couple was recently indicted for allegedly violating the Money Laundering Control Act in Taiwan, after being accused as Chinese spies by a defected Chinese military intelligence agent in 2019.
Xiang Xin, CEO of the Hong Kong-based China Innovation Investment Ltd. (CIIL) and China Trends Holdings Ltd., and his wife, Kung Ching as the alternate director, were charged with money laundering by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) on April 8, being suspected of remitting illicit money to banks in Taiwan to purchase luxury homes.
These are the first charges against the couple since November 2019, when self-claimed Chinese spy Wang “William” Liqiang who defected to Australia, claimed that Xiang and Kung were his former bosses who hired him to interfere with Taiwan and Hong Kong affairs.
Authorities extend travel ban for two accused of spying taipeitimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from taipeitimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
2021/04/09 17:19 Archived photo of Xiang Xin (right) and his wife Archived photo of Xiang Xin (right) and his wife (CNA photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Chinese businessman Xiang Xin (向心) and his wife Kung Ching (龔青) were barred from leaving Taiwan for eight months after being indicted for money laundering, on top of allegations of spying for China, reports said Friday (April 9). The CEO of China Innovation Investment Ltd. (CIIL, 中國創新投資) and his wife, a board member of the company were first accused of involvement in spying activities in November 2019. While legal proceedings in that case have still not been completed, prosecutors accused them of having transferred NT$300 million (US$10.54 million) in illegal earnings from China to Hong Kong and then into Taiwanese bank accounts. They then used the money to buy luxury property in Taiwan, CNA reported.