Reflecting Taiwan's new political reality, a high-powered mainland delegation including Alibaba's Jack Ma visiting this week was expected to receive an underwhelming welcome, according to island officials and analysts. The delegation arrives Tuesday for an eight-day visit.

Their mission was to evaluate the mood of Taiwan regarding its relations with the People's Republic of China following the stinging repudiation of Taiwan's pro-Beijing Kuomintang Party (KMT).

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KMT was routed from the self-ruling island's major cities and counties during local elections on Nov. 29. Much of the defeat was blamed on KMT leaders working with China on far-reaching economic and social rapprochements.

China's suppression of pro-democracy Hong Kong demonstrators was seen as a watershed on the island where many people are suspicious that political reconciliation will spell the doom of their own individual liberties and lifestyles.

Critics of China also fear that increased cross-strait economic and political relations present a security risk for Taiwan, the Chinese province that split off from the mainland as Chiang Kai-shek and his defeated army fled the mainland at the end of the 1949 Civil War.

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who was seeking better mainland relations, resigned as KMT chief last week, but still has two years left on his presidential term. 

Chen Chung-Hsien, an official with the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs, said island economic leaders held open a "big door" for foreign investors while the door for mainland investments was smaller due to current trade and political restrictions.

Chen likened the current approach to the mainland investment delegation as offering a "tiny 'welcome' sign in front of that door."

The Chinese delegation visiting this week was headed by Chen Deming, president of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait. It is the latest in a regular exchange between the association and the Straits Exchange Foundation, its Taiwan counterpart. It's also the first exchange since the KMT election loss.

Protestors threw paint on top Chinese officials when last they toured Taiwan in June, and fights broke out causing Zhang Zhijun, China's Taiwan Affairs Office chief to curtail the visit prematurely.

TagsChina-Taiwan, Jack Ma, Kuomintang Party, kmt, Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan