Mainland China’s top negotiator with Taiwan – Chen Deming – has arrived in Taiwan for an eight-day trip. Chen is the president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), which is China’s semi-official organization that oversees exchanges with Taiwan.
Chen is in Taiwan as the head of the association’s financial exchange delegation. This is his first trip across the strait since Taiwan held nationwide local elections on November 29.
Security was tight at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport when Chen arrived on Tuesday morning. He was greeted by a welcoming party and a small group of protestors. A total of 150 police officers were deployed to ensure the delegation’s safety.
Later on Tuesday, Chen visited the Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and its retirement village in New Taipei City. Chen said he hoped that Taiwan and China can learn from each other in the areas of medicine and geriatric care.
Chen was set to meet with his Taiwanese counterpart, Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Lin Join-sane, on Tuesday evening.