According to the directive, people with valid travel documents for entry to both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland can now journey by ship to the mainland's southern ports of Xiamen, Quanzhou and Fuzhou in an arrangement known as the "mini-three-links." The scheme refers to the direct transport of people and goods between Kinmen and Matsu and ports in Fujian, which commenced Jan. 1, 2001.
Previously only residents of the two islands, Fujian-based Taiwanese businessmen and their dependents were eligible to use the mini links, the quickest of which takes 20 minutes to cover the 35.4-kilometer distance between Kinmen and Xiamen. Trips on this route ballooned to 391,940 entries and exits in 2007, up from 12,771 when the service first started.
According to Lai Shin-yuan, minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, the increasing popularity of the service has prompted the government to implement measures aimed at protecting the residents of Kinmen and Matsu's interests. "We are looking beyond short-term benefits for the islanders," she said. "Taking better care of the local residents is a priority."
Lai explained that a long-term economic development plan is in the works, with the Council for Economic Planning and Development expected to unveil a comprehensive blueprint within the next three months. Chen Tain-jy, CEPD minister, noted that the council has completed preliminary plans to develop knowledge-based service industries, such as medical care, for the two islands that could also cater to the mainland Chinese market.
The Cabinet decision followed the landmark meeting in Beijing between Taiwan's semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation and its mainland counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits June 11-14. Pacts were signed at the meeting that would officially allow more Chinese mainland tourists to visit Taiwan with the commencement of direct weekend charter flights from July 4.
The minister explained that expanding the direct ferry service would not only benefit residents of Kinmen and Matsu, but also provide an alternative for people traveling to mainland China in conjunction with new flights.
Yang Tsai-ping, president of the Kinmen Association of Travel Agents, said that he expected the number of passengers using the ferry services to rise by about 20 percent during the next month under the new policy.
In preparation for this increase, several Taiwanese airlines announced enhanced schedules for the Taipei-Kinmen route. These included Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways and UNI Airways Corp.
From June 20 until the end of the month, a total of 57 flights--mainly between Friday and Monday--will be added by the carriers. Beginning in July, there will be 62 services per day.
According to Lai, the decision to expand the mini links came after both the SEF and the ARATS agreed that their full opening was a pressing issue that had to be addressed posthaste. "This was a provisional policy before full cross-strait direct transportation links became a reality," she said, adding that in the mid to long-term, the MAC and other agencies would work on crafting policies to further advance the mini links and hold talks with mainland China to this end.
As for the number of mainlanders who would be allowed to use the service, the ball is now in the Chinese mainland's court, Lai indicated, adding that Beijing might decide to let those outside of Fujian Province use the mini links, but suspected they would be allowed to do so on a case-by-case basis.
Over the past three years, an average of 300,000 Taiwanese people per year sailed to mainland China via the mini links, while only about 37,000 people returned to Kinmen or Matsu using the routes each year. In light of this disparity, the SEF and the ARATS will negotiate on this issue in their next round of talks, Lai said.
Describing the expansion of the mini links as a security issue, Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen said June 7 the government needs to check whether ports, airports and accommodation facilities are capable of handling the expected influx of travelers.
Responding to Tsai's concern, Lai stated that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications had started upgrading the Kinmen and Matsu ports to have them ready by Sept. 15 for the expanded operations, while the National Security Bureau, the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard Administration have also begun making necessary arrangements.
Write to Tso Lon-di at londi@mail.gio.gov.tw