Taiwan wants to develop its tourist industry, but is worried that opening Taiwan proper to mainland tourists will encourage illegal immigration and provide an easy way in for mainland secret agents.
Less-sensitive sectors, though, were opening fast; Taiwan café chain 85°C Café was listed on Taiwan's stock exchange in November, intending to use capital raised there to challenge Starbucks for dominance in China.
For more than a decade Mr. Lee exercised near-total control over his party, even as he earned the nickname "Mr. Democracy" for opening up Taiwan's political system, including the introduction of direct elections for president.
Taiwan opened the world's first cat cafe in 1998 and Japan followed suit in 2004.
As Taiwan opens its market, thousands of factory jobs are also likely to flee to the mainland.
While signing of the ECFA appeared to be delayed until 2010, Taiwan opened 192 sectors of its economy to direct Chinese investment in late June.
AS TAIWAN opened direct links between its islands of Kinmen and Matsu and the Chinese mainland cities of Xiamen and Fuzhou last week, the language was grandiose.
Wistron of Taiwan opened for business in 2001 a less-than-healthy newborn.
Doors in Taiwan opened at 11am local time on Saturday, but eager fans had queued for as long as 68 hours in some cases, Focus Taiwan reports.
Residents could open bank accounts in Taiwan dollars and drive Taiwan-registered cars (a ferry service to the Taiwanese city of Taichung started up in November).
