China To Taiwan: Parity, Pandas

China Offers Giant Pandas As Conciliatory Gesture To Neighbor

(AP) 
The offer of the giant pandas was widely expected in Taiwan — late last week, officials there already were bickering about what to name the animals.

But it wasn't immediately clear if the Taiwan government would accept the offer. A similar gesture by Beijing years ago was refused because Taipei feared they were part of a plot to foster unification.

At present, the political estrangement between the two sides has limited travel and other contacts, although business ties have grown increasingly strong.

Taiwan now only allows mainland nationals who have lived outside of China for several years to visit the island in groups that are closely monitored by the authorities.

China's offer to allow more fruit imports from Taiwan would increase the number of species allowed to be brought in from the island to 18 species from the current 12, Xinhua said.

It said a zero tariff would be allowed on more than 10 species.

The mainland side has already prepared its customs, inspection and quarantine procedures for the change in policy, the report said.

Details of the current policy on fruit imports were not immediately available.