TAIPEI, Oct 20: Taiwan will not change its policy of relaxing business measures towards the mainland despite rowing with China over the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit, economic minister Lin Hsin-i said on Saturday.

Taiwan’s delegation, led by Lin, walked out of the APEC forum Friday to protest China’s refusal to let former vice president Li Yuan-zu attend the summit of 21 Asia-Pacific leaders in Shanghai this weekend.

We need to have a forward-looking perspective in the dealing of cross-strait relations, Lin said in a press conference upon returning from Shanghai.

Amending the ‘no haste, be patient’ policy, which has been our policy, which is also a consensus of the national economic development advisory council, will not be changed.

The policy was introduced in 1996 amid heightened tension across the Taiwan Strait to limit the island’s economic dependence on the mainland.

The policy bans single China-bound investments worth more than 50 million US dollars as well as high-tech and infrastructure projects.

Taiwan has planned to ease restrictions on China-bound investment and open direct links with China to improve bilateral business ties.

Chen on Saturday reiterated the the government’s commitment to carrying out the relaxation measures.

Our policies regarding cross-strait trade and investment will be implemented and will not be affected by any incident, Chen said after speaking at an anniversary of a local business group.

Lin also expressed regret for the APEC row, saying “it’s unacceptable” that China had twisted Taiwan’s goodwill gestures as a politically motivated act in sending Li for the summit.

China’s Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Thursday that the reason why the representative has become a problem is because maybe there are political motives behind it.

Taiwan and China have been separated since the end of a civil war in 1949, and Beijing still considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.—AFP