Fujian Province Enhances Cross-Straits Development with New Taiwan Affairs Offices

On May 22, 2023, passengers at the Fuzhou Changle International Airport were seen checking their boarding passes before boarding Flight MF883. A significant development has emerged in Fujian Province, as local officials announced that all counties, including county-level cities and districts that frequently engage with Taiwan, have now established separate offices dedicated to Taiwan affairs. This initiative is interpreted by analysts as a strong indication from the Chinese mainland aiming to enhance cross-Straits integrated development and advance efforts toward reunification by 2025.

In an article featured on the WeChat account "China Institutional Establishment," which focuses on public sector reforms, Zhou Qingsong, the deputy head of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, detailed the province's recent institutional reforms. These reforms specifically target the enhancement of cross-Straits relationships, with the establishment of Taiwan affairs offices designed to streamline interactions. Zhou emphasized the importance of ensuring Taiwan compatriots in Fujian have better access to education and employment opportunities, with provisions for vocational schools and public institutions to recruit qualified teachers and students from Taiwan.

Further initiatives include the creation of platforms supporting cross-Straits integrated development and improvements to the operational frameworks of Taiwan investment zones within Fujian. Since the beginning of 2023, efforts to develop a specialized cross-Straits integrated development zone in Fujian have gained momentum, as noted by Li Zhenguang, deputy director at the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University. A specific policy document released in September 2023 highlights the central government's commitment to transform Fujian into a demonstration zone for enhanced cross-Straits integration, outlining 21 measures across various sectors.

To effectively implement these initiatives, tasks have been delineated for different counties and cities, with local Taiwan affairs offices playing a crucial role in coordination. The increase in the number of Taiwan affairs offices is a strategic investment in human resources and aims to capitalize on local strengths to facilitate integrated development. This announcement coincides with the first anniversary of the mainland's "10 measures" aimed at enhancing the living conditions of Taiwan residents in Fujian, reflecting a steadfast commitment to peaceful reunification while simultaneously opposing any separatist tendencies from Taiwan.