The head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhang Zhijun, says he is willing to meet with Taiwan’s student protestors on his next trip to Taiwan. Student protestors had occupied the legislature for more than three weeks in opposition to the legislature’s handling of a trade in services agreement with China that was signed last June. The occupation ended Thursday.
Speaking on Thursday, Zhang said that he would like to understand the grass-roots perspective in Taiwan and the views of small-to-medium sized businesses. He admitted that the cross-strait trade in services agreement benefits larger companies more than the average citizen.
Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Wang Yu-chi said that Chinese officials are showing more flexibility than in the past.
"I think the Taiwan Affairs Office’s response shows that they are sincere about understanding the diverse opinions and values in Taiwan society," said Wang. "I think this is a good thing."
Zhang also said that during the student protests, Beijing displayed restraint and was rational about its view of developments in Taiwan.