TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's top agency handling relations with Taiwan convened Taiwanese business leaders in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing Friday (April 18) to discuss mounting economic pressures triggered by escalating trade conflicts. The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO國台辦), Beijing's primary body for Taiwan policy, gathered industry representatives as Song Tao (宋濤), the agency's director, pledged to investigate and address their concerns while guaranteeing equitable treatment for Taiwan-based companies operating on the mainland.
Chinese state media outlet Xinhua News Agency (新華社) reported that Song dismissed concerns about America's trade policies, asserting that the "U.S.-initiated tariff war" would fail to undermine China's economic fundamentals or derail its positive long-term development path. The official expressed confidence in Beijing's capacity to navigate these difficulties, assuring attendees that mainland China would continue providing strong support for Taiwanese enterprises. Song further pledged to enact practical policy solutions consistent with the guiding principles established by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) regarding cross-strait relations.
The Chinese official noted that participating Taiwanese executives had recognized the substantial disruption caused by American tariff policies on international commerce, creating particular hardships for Taiwan's export-dependent manufacturers. According to Song, these business leaders described immediate challenges including declining purchase orders and increasing operational expenses. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the Taiwanese contingent remained optimistic about weathering these obstacles, pointing to China's institutional strengths, expansive consumer base, and robust domestic demand as critical buffers against economic uncertainties.
During the gathering, attendees reportedly declared strong backing for Beijing's retaliatory measures against American trade restrictions while expressing optimism about their continued business prospects in mainland China. The Taiwanese business representatives offered several strategic recommendations, including enhanced investment in innovation, greater focus on China's domestic consumer market, and improvements to supply chain logistics between Taiwan and the mainland. These proposals aimed at positioning their companies to capitalize on opportunities emerging from China's ongoing economic modernization initiatives. ★
