The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) says Taipei and Beijing have agreed to visits on humanitarian grounds. That’s the word from MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi on Monday.
The MAC is Taiwan’s top China policy-making body.
Wang told lawmakers that the two sides reached the agreement after several negotiations and that he is optimistic about the issue.
Wang said that Beijing will, in principle, include the wording “visits on humanitarian grounds” in future agreements with Taipei, but the two sides still need to work out the details.
As to an opposition lawmaker’s question about whether Chinese officials visiting Taiwan are granted “police escorts”, Wang said that the MAC had not sought police protection for them.
Wang said the police who are present during such visits are mainly on hand to maintain order and collect evidence if necessary.