society on either side of the Taiwan Strait? The government has announced it will re-examine its policy on visits to the mainland in April: What effect has the policy produced so far? And what effect will this development have on the future of China?

At the end of August last year, when the R.O.C. government announced the lifting of restrictions on visits to relatives on mainland China, a magazine in Hong Kong reported that Teng Hsiao-p'ing said, "Chiang Ching-kuo has us checkmated."

Many Hong Kong television stations, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines reported the new development along both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Some of the leftist newspapers, which commonly resort to Unified Front tactics, were silent for a change, and didn't make any comments.

This type of response from the Chinese Communists, who are usually calling for the "Three Links," may have caught many by surprise. Some critics in Hong Kong have surmised that this is because policy as regards Taiwan is made at the top of the heap in the Chinese Communist Party, whereas those at the bottom are afraid to say something out of line. Others say that Taiwan acted too quickly, too suddenly, so that the Chinese Communists have not yet had time to respond.

About one week later，the Chinese Communists expressed their "warm welcome" through the media to their fellow compatriots on Taiwan.

Cities and towns on the mainland which once hung slogans that read "We must liberate Taiwan" immediately changed them to "We warmly welcome our compatriots from Taiwan." On the mainland, where a train, boat, or airplane ticket is very difficult to come by, people from Taiwan have been given priority and provided with many conveniences. In some places there are special seats reserved for people from Taiwan, while in other places special ticket windows have been opened to serve them.

Provinces and cities across the mainland have requested funds from the regime to build new buildings, purchase small cars, and organize receptions for those from Taiwan. This is all being done in hopes that the people of Taiwan will be left with the impression that flourishing improvements are under way on the mainland.

This 180-degree turn by the Chinese Communists, who have refused to rule out the use of force when dealing with Taiwan, has quite naturally been difficult for the people on the mainland to swallow.

During the Cultural Revolution the Chinese Communists strictly forbade ancestral worship. As a result, many graves were dug up and destroyed. Then in 1979 when the Chinese Communists changed their policy, the number of Chinese from Hong Kong and Macao who returned to the mainland to tidy up their ancestor's graves increased. In order to "unify the hearts of the people" the Chinese Communists made an all-out effort to restore ancestral graves.

Most people from Taiwan who return to the mainland do so to visit family graves, yet some are unable to find the graves, or cannot find a place to buy goods used for such offerings. An older gentleman originally from Chekiang angrily told the Chinese Communist cadres, "I've come back to search for my roots! Now, not even my ancestor's grave remains. What else would I have returned for? The Communist party doesn't want ancestors, but we do."

Those who have returned to the mainland probably know that the Chinese Communists now permit "individual businesses." One can now set up a small stand and sell food or clothing, or sell local products. The money that is earned from such sales can be pocketed after taxes. This type of free enterprise and individual economy, where people reap what they sow, has been greatly welcomed by the people on the mainland.

On account of the above, some suggest that upon their return visit to the mainland, they take along money rather than a television, refrigerator, washing machine, or sewing machine. Money can help them establish a small business, and thus improve their living conditions. In the past people have sent money to their relatives on the mainland over a long period of time. Then on their return visit they are comforted to see that the money they sent has been used to establish a small business with which their relatives can improve their standard of living.

P'u Shu-hua, deputy director of the Office of Mainland Affairs at United Daily News says, "The Chinese Communists are certainly behind the reason why people from Taiwan enjoy special privileges, yet some from Taiwan have acted ostentatiously thinking that these special privileges are 'only natural.' Secondly, some people return to visit their relatives on the mainland, and take along a host of gifts looking something like Santa Claus: This has given the people on the mainland the impression that everyone from Taiwan is wealthy!"

Ho Wen-te was curious and asked about the conditions at school, only to discover that his niece spends two hours a day traveling back and forth to get something to eat regardless of the sub-zero temperatures. He thought of the boys and girls on Taiwan carrying their box lunches, and how they are able to get hot food in their school. He also thought of the time when he was a child and returned home every day to eat. When he looked back on the hardships he went through forty years ago, he never thought that the conditions would be the same. He couldn't help but feel saddened by it all.

A traveler from Taiwan was taking the train at two o'clock in the morning on the way back to his hometown. He got off the train and leaned against a post at the station. From there he observed some ordinary people carry luggage as they rushed to make the train. Hard-seat was already filled, yet even though there was still room in the soft berth car, they didn't dare get in since their status was not up to par. He commented, "If this was Taiwan, then the train would be overturned!"

Domestically some scholars question the effect that people from Taiwan will have on the mainland, with its population of one billion. Chao Chien-min says, "Perhaps those travelers from Taiwan will somewhat shock people on the mainland, but the chance of bringing about a change in the Chinese Communist authority is still off in the future."

K'o Yung-kuang, from the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, says that visiting relatives on the mainland is merely the first step. Although it's difficult to know the actual impact of such visits, one thing's for sure: There would be no impact if no visit were made. He notes that in the past Christians from abroad advocated a movement in which Bibles were brought to the mainland through tourist visits. This had an effect on the development of the church on the mainland; therefore, we shouldn't underestimate the power of a seed.

A friend from Hong Kong reminds us, "Little strokes fell great oaks!"

[Picture Caption]

Carts delivering coal gas canisters--a sight once seem on Taiwan thirty years ago. (Photo by Lo Chi-chih)

Returning to their hometowns after forty years, people from Taiwan are welcomed with firecrackers. (Photo courtesy of Chu Wen-kuei.)

It's not known what effect foreign cultures will have on the minds of the people on the mainland. (Photo by Lo Chi-chih.)

Buying a train ticket is often a big hassle on the mainland, yet with the policy of special treatment for those from Taiwan, such problems have been minimized. (Photo by Ma Chung-hsin.)

Relatives who return to the mainland desire to help their relatives set up a small individual business. This provides them with the means to make some money. (Photo by Chuang Ming-ching.)

It's easy to tell who the visiting relative is just by the clothes they wear, and the expressions on their faces. (photo by Chuang Ming-ching)

A minority group in Szechwan Province welcomes relatives with a warm smile. (Photo by Chuang Ming-ching.)

Returning to their hometowns after forty years, people from Taiwan are welcomed with firecrackers. （Photo courtesy of Chu Wen-kuei.）

It's not known what effect foreign cultures will have on the minds of the people on the mainland. （Photo by Lo Chi-chih.）

Buying a train ticket is often a big hassle on the mainland, yet with the policy of special treatment for those from Taiwan, such problems have been minimized. （Photo by Ma Chung-hsin.）

Relatives who return to the mainland desire to help their relatives set up a small individual business. This provides them with the means to make some money. （Photo by Chuang Ming-ching.）

t's easy to tell who the visiting relative is just by the clothes they wear, and the expressions on their faces. （photo by Chuang Ming-ching）

A minority group in Szechwan Province welcomes relatives with a warm smile. （Photo by Chuang Ming-ching.）