Background

　　On November 2, 1987, the government of Taiwan announced that, based on humanitarian and familial considerations, it would allow the people of Taiwan to pay family visits to mainland China. Since that time, cross-strait private exchanges have rapidly expanded and contributed to mutual understanding between the two sides. At the same time, contact across the Strait were giving rise to numerous problems, such as smuggling, illegal immigration, crime and other private disputes. These problems steadily increased in scope and urgently needed to be resolved.

　　On January 8, 1992, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) sent a letter to the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to invite the SEF chairman, vice chairman, or the secretary-general to lead a delegation to visit Beijing and exchange views on enhancing communications and cooperation. The SEF promptly sent a reply letter stating that it would visit ARATS "at a time convenient to both sides." On August 4, ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan sent a letter inviting SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu to choose a time and place that year for a meeting to exchange views on economic development and SEF-ARATS affairs. On August 14, the SEF and MAC held a high-level joint meeting to exchange views. All sides considered that high-level exchanges between the SEF and ARATS concerning the invitation matters would have a positive impact on the operations and functions of the two organizations. The MAC therefore agreed to allow the SEF to begin preparatory work for the meeting. On August 22, SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu sent a reply letter to ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan accepting the invitation. He suggested that the two sides meet in Singapore in mid-October that year or at another suitable time for talks on SEF-ARATS affairs and cross-strait cultural and economic exchanges.

　　The two sides subsequently held routine meetings on "Cross-strait Document Verification" and "Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits." Since the mainland side raised the "one China" issue, the two sides were unable to reach a consensus and the meeting was considerably delayed because of the inopportune mood and timing. It was not until November, when the two sides agreed to each state the "one China" principle orally and negotiate the details later, that the SEF began to more actively consider holding the meeting. At the end of November, ARATS sent another letter proposing that a preparatory meeting for the "Koo-Wang Talks" be held in mid-December and that the official talks be held in late December. As to the location of the meeting, ARATS said it was willing to consider Chairman Koo's proposal to hold the talks in Singapore. The competent authority finally decided to not hold the meeting at the proposed time due to the year-end legislative election and approaching Lunar New Year holiday.

　　On March 2, 1993, ARATS sent another letter to the SEF proposing that the "Koo-Wang Talks" be held in late March or early April, and that the two sides hold a preparatory meeting to select a meeting site. On March 12, ARATS sent a letter co-signed by Permanent Vice Chairman Tang Shubei and Vice Chairman and Secretary-general Zhou Zhekai, inviting the newly appointed SEF Vice Chairman and Secretary-general Cheyne Chiu to visit Beijing. On March 18, the MAC published the "Koo-Wang Talks Background Report," defining the talks as "the first meeting between the high-level representatives of private intermediary organizations officially authorized by the governments of the two sides." It stated that the meeting would be practical and functional in nature, with no political issues involved. On March 23, ARATS officials issued a statement defining the "Koo-Wang Talks" as private, economic and routine in nature. It also expressed hope that Secretary-general Cheyne Chiu could visit Beijing in the near term for discussions on related matters. On the same day, SEF Legal Service Department Director Shi Hwei-you led an SEF delegation to Beijing for the third round of talks with ARATS on "Cross-strait Document Verification" and "Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits." He and ARATS Deputy Secretary-general Sun Yafu also made preliminary arrangements on procedural issues for the "Koo-Wang Talks" preparatory meeting. The two sides decided in principle that Vice Chairman Cheyne Chiu and ARATS Permanent Vice Chairman Tang Shubei would first hold a preparatory meeting in Beijing from April 7.

First Preparatory Meeting

　　On April 3, the MAC officially authorized the SEF Vice Chairman and Secretary-general Chiu to lead a 13-member delegation of SEF advisors to Beijing from April 7 to 11 for a preparatory meeting with ARATS. At the same time, the MAC published a "Background Report on the Koo-Wang Talks and its Preparatory Meeting."

　　On April 8 and 10, Vice Chairman Chiu and ARATS Permanent Vice Chairman Tang Shubei met twice to discuss procedural issues and other matters concerning the holding of the official talks. On April 9, Vice Chairman Chiu visited the Red Cross Society of China. On April 10, Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang initialed the "Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits" and "Agreement on Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits." On April 11, Vice Chairman Chiu visited ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan. The preparatory meeting resulted in the following seven points of consensus between the two sides:

1. Definition: The two sides defined the "Koo-Wang Talks" as private, routine, economic and functional in nature. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a liaison and negotiation channel between the SEF and ARATS so as to resolve issues arising from private exchanges and actively promote economic, cultural, educational and scientific and technological exchanges.
2. Meeting date: The talks would be held on April 27 and 28, 1993, and could be extended an additional day as needed. A second preparatory meeting would be convened before the talks.
3. Meeting place: Singapore
4. Participants: The two sides agreed to each send no more than 10 personnel.
5. Official meeting topics: SEF-ARATS affairs, discussions on routine affairs of the year, and economic, cultural, educational and technological issues.
6. The two sides would officially sign two agreements in Singapore, including agreements on "Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits" and "Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits."
7. The two sides would later discuss the joint document to be issued after the meeting.

Second Preparatory Meeting

　　Following the first preparatory meeting between Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang, the SEF promptly began to study and draft a plan with related agencies. After completing the permission request and reporting to the Legislative Yuan, the SEF sent three separate groups to Singapore, including an advance group, Second Preparatory Meeting group and official talks group.

　　The six-person advance group led by SEF Deputy Secretary-general Lee Ching-ping arrived in Singapore on the afternoon of April 19. Upon arrival, the group began making arrangements for the meeting venue, accommodations, and press conferences. The ARATS advance group, led by Xu Zhiqin and Qiao Feng arrived in Singapore on April 21. On April 22, SEF Vice Chairman Chiu and ARATS Vice Chairman Tang arrived in Singapore. On the morning of April 23, Vice Chairman Chiu called on the Taipei Representative Office in Singapore and inspected the meeting venue. In the afternoon, Vice Chairman Chiu, ARATS Vice Chairman Tang and related personnel of the SEF and ARATS held the second preparatory meeting on the 26th floor of the Haihuang Building. The two sides first confirmed the agenda and itinerary for the preparatory meeting and official talks and exchanged views on establishing an institutionalized liaison channel, approach to the talks, and economic exchange issues.

　　On the morning of April 24, Legal Service Department Director Shi Hwei-you and Specialist Ho Wu-liang of the SEF held a working meeting with Deputy Director Zhou Ning of the ARATS Consultation Division and Mr. Ma Xiaoguang of the ARATS General Affairs Division. In the afternoon, Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang met again to discuss SEF-ARATS affairs and the framework and content of the joint document, and to exchange specific views on cultural, educational and scientific and technological exchanges and repatriation issues. On April 25 and the morning of April 26, Deputy Secretary-general Lee Ching-ping, Director Shi, and Specialist Ho held working meetings with ARATS Deputy Secretary-general Sun Yafu, Deputy Director Zhou, and Mr. Ma. During the meeting, the two sides completed an initial draft of the joint document. On the afternoon of April 26, Chairman Koo arrived at Singapore's Changi Airport and held a press conference. He then called on Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kwan Yew.

　　The official talks and agreement signing ceremony were held on the morning of April 27. SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu and ARATS Chairman Wang Daohan held the first official talks on the fourth floor of the Haihuang Building. During the general discussion, Chairman Wang proposed that the topic of opening direct cross-strait "Three Links" be placed on the meeting agenda. Since no consensus had been reached on this proposal during the preparatory meeting, Chairman Koo intentionally ignored the proposal and made no response. In the afternoon, nine representatives from each side, including Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang, continued discussions at the original meeting site. The two sides reached consensus on most of the issues, with the exception of issues concerning the place for a secretary-general-level meeting and economic exchanges.

　　On the morning of April 28, Chairman Koo called Mr. Ong Teng Cheong, Singapore's first elected President. At the same time, the SEF and ARATS teams led by Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang continued discussions at the Haihuang Building. Vice Chairman Chiu first expressed dissatisfaction over Chairman Wang's April 27 speech, emphasizing that the "Three Links" issue was not within the scope of the consensus. He also again urged the mainland side to provide a concrete response on the issue of protecting the investment rights and interests of Taiwanese businesspeople. Vice Chairman Tang stated that he could not make any promises beyond what was provided for in Article 22 of the "Provisions of the State Council Concerning the Encouragement of Investments by Compatriots from Taiwan." After extensive discussion, the two sides failed to reach a consensus on the issue of investment protections for Taiwanese businesspeople. At 3:00 p.m., before the second official Koo-Wang Talks, Chairman Koo and Vice Chairman Chiu met for a half hour with Chairman Wang and Vice Chairman Tang. The two sides agreed to delay the meeting and reschedule the agreement signing ceremony for 10:00 a.m. on April 29. After a 15-minute meeting between the two groups, led by Chairman Koo and Chairman Wang, Vice Chairman Chiu and Vice Chairman Tang continued discussions on economic exchange issues. However, due to wide discrepancies of view, the talks between the two sides continued into the evening before an agreement was reached.

　　The agreement signing ceremony was held on the fourth floor of the Haihuang Building at 10:40 a.m. on April 29. Chairman Koo and Chairman Wang signed the agreements on behalf of the SEF and ARATS, respectively. The two sides first signed the "Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits," "Agreement on Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits," and "Joint Agreement of the Koo-Wang Talks." After exchanging the signed agreements and the signing pens, Chairman Koo, Chairman Wang and the personnel of the two sides held a champagne celebration. On the morning of April 30, Chairman Koo and Vice Chairman Chiu called on Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and then proceeded with the SEF delegation to the airport to return to Taipei that afternoon.

　　After the meeting, the newly established SEF raised issues related to "document verification" with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. After ARATS was established, the SEF and ARATS held discussions lasting over a year on the "Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits" and "Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits." The two sides finally reached a consensus at the end of March that year. Agreements were initialed in early April and officially signed at the Koo-Wang Talks. Based on the past year of operational experience, the SEF and ARATS also agreed during the meeting to establish a channel for institutionalized contacts and meetings. To this end they signed the "System for Contacts and Meetings between the SEF and ARATS." The key points of these agreements are summarized as follows:

1. Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits
2. Under the Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Strait, the SEF and the ARATS agreed that copies of notarized documents pertaining to the following categories may be sent to the other side for verification, namely, inheritance, adoption, marriage, birth, death, authorization, academic records, household records, financial support for parents and relatives, and certificate of property rights. In future, the authenticity of documents can be verified by a "comparison" approach rather than the "mailing" method adopted before, thereby providing more efficient service to the public. Both sides also agreed to conduct negotiations on specific cases and render mutual assistance on documents other than certificates of authentication. The agreement was anticipated to smoothly resolve long-term difficulties on cross-strait document verification.
3. Agreement on Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits
4. Under the "Agreement on Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits," the two sides agreed to open cross-strait services for direct delivery of ordinary and registered mail, including letters, postcards, aerogrammes, printed matter, newspapers, magazines, and mail for the blind. If registered mail delivered via a third area were lost, the two sides would mutually assist with inquiries and make a written reply within 30 days of receiving an inquiry request. If a letter is lost or its content are stolen or damaged, the side from which it was sent shall assume liability for compensation, and no mutual settlement shall be made. The agreement therefore will enable the public to send mail with peace of mind, knowing that their rights and interests are protected.
5. Agreement on the System for Contacts and Meetings between the SEF and ARATS
6. The main content of this agreement involves the establishment of an institutionalized system of contacts and meetings between the SEF and ARATS. The SEF vice-chairman and ARATS vice-chairman or the secretaries general of the two organizations will, in principle, hold meetings regularly or irregularly concerning the business of the two organizations. Deputy secretaries general, department chiefs, and personnel of the rank of director of the two organizations will hold quarterly meetings; and routine meetings may be held for special cases as required. Both sides agreed to designate their deputy secretaries general as emergency contact persons. In addition, the two sides would mutually facilitate the entry into and exit from the areas of the two sides by personnel the two organizations for reasons stipulated in the agreement.
7. Joint Agreement of the Koo-Wang Talks

　　During the Koo-Wang Talks, the two sides discussed issues designated during the preparatory meeting and signed the "Joint Agreement of the Koo-Wang Talks." Under the agreement, the two parties would hold routine meetings on the following topics by the end of this year: "the repatriation of people who enter the area of the other side in violation of relevant regulations [illegal migrants] and related questions"; "questions concerning joint efforts to suppress the criminal activities of marine smuggling and robbery"; "handling of marine fishing disputes between the two sides"; "protection of intellectual property of the two sides"; and (provisionally) "mutual assistance between the judicial organs of the two sides (contact and assistance between relevant courts of the two sides)." The two sides also reached a consensus on principles for cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchanges. In addition, they agreed to make concrete arrangements for youth exchanges, media exchanges, and scientific and technological exchanges by the end of this year. Regarding economic exchanges, the mainland side did not make any specific pledges on protecting Taiwan business investments. Consequently, the Taiwan side considered the meeting on cross-strait economic exchanges to be insignificant. Finally, the two sides formed a consensus on the following language in the agreement: "Both parties concur in the necessity of strengthening economic exchanges between the two sides for their mutual benefit. Both parties agree to select times and places to continue discussions on the issue of protecting Taiwan business investment in the mainland and related questions, as well as mutual visits of people from industrial and commercial circles." Although the two sides were unable to reach a concrete conclusion on economic exchanges, the agreement facilitated future discussions by highlighting this issue and enabling both sides to fully understand the position of the other side.

◎ Agreement on the Use and Verification of Certificates of Authentication Across the Taiwan Straits

◎ Agreement on Matters Concerning Inquiry and Compensation for [Lost] Registered Mail Across the Taiwan Straits

◎ System for Contacts and Meetings between the SEF and ARATS

◎ Joint Agreement of the Koo-Wang Talks