Taiwan plans to broaden the scope of the existing "mini three links" with China to ease growing calls for full direct cross-strait exchanges by local businessmen, a report here said yesterday.
The move, expected to come into effect on March 1, would allow all Taiwanese businessmen in China to travel across the strait by way of the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu, a Chinese-language newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying.
The "mini three links," launched on Jan. 2, 2001, refer to direct transport, commercial and postal links between Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu islands and China's southeastern Fujian province.
Current regulations only allow those investing in Fujian to travel in this way.
Taiwan has banned full direct exchanges with China since the two sides split in 1949 at the end of a civil war despite booming travel and trade across the strait through third parties.
Taiwanese businessmen investing in China have been pressuring the authorities to open direct transport links to lower production costs and cut out long roundabout travel journeys.
The government hoped relaxing the existing arrangements would ease pressure from the business lobby ahead of the presidential elections on March 20, the paper said.
Taiwanese enterprises have poured an estimated US$70 billion into China.
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