MAC Chairman Joseph Wu announced the move following amendment to regulations governing Taiwan's "Mini-Three-Links," which previously covered two other groups of outlying islands, Kinmen and Matsu. Earlier in the day during a visit to Penghu, President Chen Shui-bian said relaxation of the government's policy on cross-strait transportation was made after an MAC review of national security considerations and residents' needs.
According to the amended articles, tourist groups from China could extend their trip from Kinmen and Matsu to Penghu by charter flight or ship with the approval of Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Taiwanese citizens who had lived on Penghu for six months or more could enter China via Kinmen or Matsu with permission of the Ministry of the Interior's National Immigration Agency.
The NIA received around 20 applications on the first day of the new regulations, the Chinese-language United Daily News reported April 2. Most were submitted by members of a group scheduled to visit China April 18 to promote a three-day package tour to Penghu, while Penghu residents showed less interest, the report claimed. It attributed this to a lack of regular flights between Penghu and the two islands offering transits to China.
Regarding Penghu residents' hopes for full-scale "Mini-Three-Links," Chen said the amendment to regulations could be a first step toward full implementation, according to the Office of the President Web site.
Companies in Penghu's tourist sector viewed the new policy as offering them a niche market, however. The Public Television Service reported April 2 that local businesses predicted an increase in commercial opportunities brought by the reduction in transportation time and cost. Previously it took seven hours and around US$430 for Penghu residents to visit Shanghai, the report continued, which was estimated to fall to around four hours and US$200.
Chen Shang-cyun, president of Far Eastern Air Transport, claimed the route between Penghu and Kinmen was expected to bring great benefit to the airline, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported March 21. He added that domestic airlines were eyeing the potential market for flights between outlying islands and those between the islands and Taiwan proper, especially following initiation in January of the High Speed Railway running the length of western Taiwan.
Concerning further opening up to allow Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan proper, Wu was quoted in another March 21 CNA report as saying no specific time had been decided, and that a sixth round of negotiations with China would be launched. He indicated that both the Taiwanese and Chinese governments expected the policy to be implemented, and related discussions would proceed even after he left Taiwan for his new post as representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.
Write to Annie Huang at shihyin@mail.gio.gov.tw