Mainland Affairs Council

Mainland Affairs Council. The Mainland Affairs Council is the primary governmental agency of the Republic of China responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of policies related to Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Established in the early 1990s, it operates under the Executive Yuan and serves as the counterpart to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. The council plays a central role in managing the complex and often delicate interactions across the Taiwan Strait, addressing issues ranging from economic exchanges to political dialogues.

History

The council was officially inaugurated on 21 January 1991, following the lifting of martial law in Taiwan and the gradual democratization under the administration of President Lee Teng-hui. Its creation institutionalized the management of cross-strait relations, which had evolved significantly after the Cold War and the end of the Battle of the Golden Gate era of military confrontation. Key historical milestones include its role in establishing the Straits Exchange Foundation and facilitating the landmark 1992 meetings that led to the so-called 1992 Consensus. The council has navigated periods of tension, such as the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995-1996, and engagement, including the 2015 meeting between Ma Ying-jeou and Xi Jinping in Singapore.

Organization

The council is headed by a Minister, who is supported by two Vice Ministers and a council of advisors. Its internal structure is divided into several departments, including the Department of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, the Department of Economic and Trade Affairs, and the Department of Cultural and Educational Affairs. Key affiliated bodies include the Straits Exchange Foundation, which handles day-to-day interactions and negotiations with the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits. The council maintains a liaison office in Hong Kong and coordinates closely with other Executive Yuan agencies like the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Functions and responsibilities

The council's primary function is to formulate and execute policies concerning Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, covering political, economic, security, and social dimensions. It assesses the impact of mainland policies on Taiwan and advises the Executive Yuan on strategic responses. A major responsibility is supervising and authorizing all forms of cross-strait exchanges, including trade agreements, transportation links, and tourism initiatives like travel to Kinmen and Matsu Islands. The council also coordinates with the Ministry of Justice on legal matters and judicial cooperation, and it issues regular reports on the situation in the Taiwan Strait to the Legislative Yuan.

Policies and cross-strait relations

The council's policies have shifted under different administrations, from the "no haste, be patient" doctrine under Lee Teng-hui to the "active management, effective liberalization" approach during the Chen Shui-bian presidency. Under the Kuomintang government of Ma Ying-jeou, it promoted the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and facilitated direct flights between Taipei and Shanghai. Current policy under the Democratic Progressive Party administration emphasizes maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and strengthening national security amid increased pressure from the People's Liberation Army. The council consistently opposes the One-China principle as defined by Beijing and rejects the applicability of the Anti-Secession Law to Taiwan.

Leadership

The council is led by a Minister appointed by the President of the Republic of China and approved by the Legislative Yuan. Notable past ministers include Huang Kun-huei, who served during the Chen Shui-bian era, and Wang Yu-chi, who held the first ministerial-level meeting with Zhang Zhijun of the Taiwan Affairs Office in 2014. The current Minister is Chiu Tai-san, a former Deputy Mayor of Taipei and senior member of the Democratic Progressive Party, who assumed office in 2021. The leadership works closely with the National Security Council and reports directly to the Premier of the Republic of China on all cross-strait developments.

Category:Government agencies of the Republic of China Category:Cross-strait relations Category:Executive Yuan