Vanessa Shih, chief of the GIO - the government's agency in charge of handling communication and media affairs - made the remarks three year after China's Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily lost their rights to station representatives in Taiwan.

She said that Taiwan will grant visas to Chinese journalists, based on the principle of parity, in an open gesture of good-will towards Chinese authorities.

Chinese correspondents are forthwith allowed to stay in Taiwan for three months, instead of the current one month, and are eligible to extend their stay by another three months to meet special needs, she added.

Also, Shih announced that the government will allow another five regional state media outlets from China to post reporters here in an attempt to help China's people "better understand Taiwan."

Three Chinese media outlets already have a presence here - China Central Television, China National Radio and China News Service.

The government of then President Chen Shui-bian canceled Chinese media's rights to station reporters in response to their biased reporting following China's enactment of an "anti-secession" law in March 2005.

The controversial law authorized the use of force against Taiwan if it formally declared independence.