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Dec. 31, 2008: President Hu Jintao delivers a six-point speech outlining the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) leadership’s approach to dealing with Taiwan. Jan. 1, 2009: President Ma Ying-jeou’s New Year’s address stresses Republic of China (ROC) sovereignty and dignity. Jan. 5, 2009: Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) sends the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) compensation claims for melamine contamination. Jan. 7, 2009: SEF Chair Chiang Pin-kung visits China for consultations with Taiwan invested enterprises (TIEs). Jan. 8, 2009: Reports show Taiwan’s exports to China in December decline by 54 percent. Jan. 8, 2009: Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Minister Wang Yi meets U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in Beijing. Jan. 12, 2009: Beijing reports that PLA Navy escorts Taiwan ship near Somalia. Jan. 13, 2009: World Health Organization invites Taiwan to participate in International Health Regulations (IHR). Jan. 16, 2009: SEF Chair Chiang says the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement makes Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with China necessary. Jan. 17, 2009: President Ma Ying-jeou again calls for removal of Chinese missiles from the coastal region opposite Taiwan. Jan. 20, 2009: Beijing releases its 2008 white paper on national defense. Jan. 21, 2009: TAO Minister Wang Yi comments on the agenda for the 3rd ARATS-SEF talks. Jan. 22, 2009: President Ma reiterates “resolute defense, effective deterrence” policy. Jan. 22, 2009: Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) authorizes financial services, scheduled flights, and PRC investment as issues for 3rd SEF-ARATS talks. Jan. 26, 2009: Taipei Zoo’s panda house opens. Jan.27, 2009: Raytheon wins a bid to upgrade Taiwan’s Patriot missiles. China-Taiwan Relations 78 April 2009 Jan. 30, 2009: President Barack Obama calls President Hu and makes no mention of Taiwan. Feb. 1, 2009: Democratic Progressive Party Chair Tsai Ing-wen asserts Washington has doubts about President Ma’s cross-Strait policy. Feb. 6, 2009: Jia Qinglin, fourth-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference, attends a conference in Taiwan. Feb. 13, 2009: President Ma is interviewed by New York Times. Feb. 13, 2009: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expresses hope that cross-Strait relations will continue to improve. Feb. 14, 2009: MAC states that CECA is not on the agenda for the 3rd SEF-ARATS meeting. Feb. 14, 2009: DPP chair Tsai says CECA requires social consensus in Taiwan. Feb. 14, 2009: MAC Chair Lai Shin-yuan says the number of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan has increased to 1,500. Feb. 15, 2009: The two Palace Museums ink an artifact exchange deal in Beijing. Feb. 16, 2009: Secretary Clinton says U.S. encourages further progress in cross-Strait relations. Feb. 16, 2009: Taiwan financial services delegation holds talks in Beijing. Feb. 21, 2009: Secretary Clinton visits Beijing. Feb. 21, 2009: DPP–Taiwan Solidarity Union National Policy Conference focuses on CECA. Feb. 22, 2009: TSU Chair Huang Chu-wen says CECA will prompt all-out impeachment effort. Feb. 22, 2009: DPP Chair Tsai says CECA would cause serious social conflict. Feb. 24, 2009: Taiwan’s Presidential Office says name CECA will be dropped from the discussions on the development of an agreement on economic issues with China. Feb. 24, 2009: Premier Liu Chao-shiuan says there is no timetable for concluding CECA. Feb. 24, 2009: SEF Chair Chiang says he hopes a framework for CECA can be reached in 2009. Feb. 25, 2009: TAO spokesman says CECA would be mutually beneficial. Feb. 26, 2009: Cross-Strait postal remittance of funds begins. China-Taiwan Relations 79 April 2009 Feb. 27, 2009: President Ma’s news conference introduces the term Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in lieu of CECA. Feb. 27, 2009: MAC says CECA would be sent to Legislative Yuan (LY) for approval. Feb. 27, 2009: Premier Liu says CECA is not on 3rd SEF-ARATS agenda. Feb. 28, 2009: U.S.-China Defense Policy Coordination Talks conclude. March 1, 2009: In online dialogue, Premier Wen Jiabao calls for economic cooperation mechanism that meets Taiwan’s needs. March 2, 2009: DPP Chair Tsai calls for referendum on CECA/ECFA. March 2, 2009: Speaker Wang Jin-pyng calls for LY task force on cross-Strait relations. March 3, 2009: Group led by Frank Hsieh says CECA would mean unification. March 3, 2009: Former Vice Premier Wu Rong-yi says ECFA is a trap set by China. March 4, 2009: Former President Lee Teng-hui says ECFA not in Taiwan’s interest. March 4, 2009: President Ma says tensions with the mainland are at record low; PRC announces 15 percent increase in 2010 defense budget. March 4, 2009: Kuomintang (KMT) Chair Wu Poh-hsuing returns from trip to Southeast Asia. March 5, 2009: President Ma expresses hope that ECFA can be discussed at the 3rd SEF-ARATS meeting. March 6, 2009: People’s Bank of China President Zhou Xiaochuan says financial service memorandum of understanding with Taiwan could be based on HK agreement. March 7, 2009: Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) Chair Morris Chang endorses goal of ECFA. March 10, 2009: PRC Minister of Commerce Chen Deming calls for early talks on CECA to combat financial downturn. March 11, 2009: TAO Minister Wang Yi is cautiously optimistic that Taiwan will be able to attend the World Health Assembly as an observer. March 12, 2009: President Ma says talks on WHA participation will be held overseas in April. March 16, 2009: Taipei releases its first Quadrennial Defense Report. China-Taiwan Relations 80 April 2009 March 18, 2009: President Ma receives American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Ray Burghardt. March 19, 2009: Taipei’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) holds first ECFA hearing. March 24, 2009: DPP Chair Tsai says ECFA under “one China” principle would divide society. March 25, 2009: U.S. Department of Defense releases Military Power of the PRC 2009 report. March 29, 2009: MOEA Minister Yiin Chii-ming says there have been talks on ECFA. March 30, 2009: DPP Caucus calls for full transparency on ECFA. March 30, 2009: Two Red Cross societies sign cooperation agreement in Taipei. March 31, 2009: Taipei ratifies two UN human rights conventions. China-