There were further developments in the already rapid development of economic links between Taiwan and mainland China in Q408, which had both geopolitical and domestic implications.

December saw agreements on direct flights between the two countries, and Chinese citizens can now send mail directly to Taiwan. The most significant signal of warming ties, however, came on December 18, when a mainland official said that Beijing may allow Taiwan to join international bodies, including the World Health Organisation, after a series of talks. Taiwan’s President Ma has dropped the country’s annual bid for representation, and continues to face opposition to the thawing of relations with China on his stated basis of ‘three nos’: no unification, no independence and no use of force.

Ma has confirmed his commitment to maintaining Taiwan’s defence forces, while continuing political and economic reforms, although opposition to increasing rapprochement with mainland China continues.

The visit of a 60-member delegation led by Chen Yunlin, chairman of the China-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, on November 6 was met by a series of student sit-ins and other protests, which saw heated exchanges that led Amnesty International to call for Taiwanese police not to use excessive violence at future demonstrations.

In another significant development, the Chinese defence ministry in October strongly criticised a US plan to sell US$6.5bn in advanced weaponry to Taiwan, which eventually led to China cancelling military contact with the US. Although Taiwan continues to be one of the most significant importers of military equipment in the world, its spending falls far short of China’s.

Taiwan’s military, according to reports in early December 2008, is set to become a fully volunteer force by 2014, following a series of reductions to the conscription term since 2004. Taiwan’s government has required young men over the age of 18 to undergo military training since 1949, due to the threat of possible attacks from China.