What is the current state of relations in terms of trade and economics?
Since 1987, when the [Taiwanese] government [began allowing] people from Taiwan to visit relatives on the Chinese mainland, cross-strait trade and economic relations have rapidly improved, and there have been impressive results: • Trade – As of November 2000, total indirect trade with the Chinese mainland amounted to US$218bn. Compared to the same period last year, Taiwan-mainland trade increased 22.1%, reaching US$29bn from January to November 2000. • Investments – Over the past two years… Taiwanese [investment in China] increased by 72% in 2000. Mainland statistics show that as of September 2000, the number of approved investments by Taiwan businessmen on the mainland had reached 45,729, totalling more than US$46.5bn. This made Taiwan the fourth largest outside investor on the mainland. By conservative estimates, more than 30,000 Taiwan factories or Taiwan-invested factories are operating on the Chinese mainland…. Taiwan businesses have created at least three million jobs for the
