Taiwan, China to Set Up Tourism Offices

Taiwan and China will establish semiofficial tourism offices in each other's territories early next year, an official said Saturday, in a landmark move underscoring their dramatically improved relations.

Yang Rwei-chong, a government official, will become the first senior Taiwanese official to be based in Beijing, a milestone in bilateral ties after decades of hostility.

Yang confirmed to reporters he was appointed to head the Taiwan tourism office that will begin operations by February 2010.

He pledged to do his best to attract more Chinese tourists to the island.

The two sides agreed to exchange offices in July to promote tourism and handle tourist disputes and accidents but did not immediately set a timeframe.

Since taking office 17 months ago, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has actively promoted ties with Beijing. This would be the first time Taiwan and China have set up offices of any kind in each other's territories since they split amid civil war in 1949.

In the absence of official ties, the offices will be operated by two semiofficial groups - the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and China's Cross-Straits Tourism Exchange Association - to circumvent the disputes about Taiwan's sovereignty.

Despite the split 60 years ago, China continues to claim self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory.

Since last year, Ma has resumed high-level dialogues, set up regular direct transportation links and allowed a greater number of Chinese tourists to visit in the hope of boosting Taiwan's economy.