Religious representatives from Taiwan traveled to the Chinese province of Fujian yesterday to conduct talks on a direct boat service during the high pilgrimage season to worship Matsu (
Cheng Min-kun (
"The local authorities have told us that they have already been authorized by the Chinese central government to accept as many pilgrimages as possible," Cheng said
He added that in the past, the temple had to cut through central government red tape to pre-approve the list of pilgrims.
Chen said an estimated 3,000 followers from his temple would travel to Meizhou Temple
"It is up to the MAC now to determine whether there will be a direct service. Otherwise, the boats will have to dock at a third country," he said.
The MAC announced earlier this month that quasi-direct passenger boat services to China would be allowed after the March presidential election.
Instead of fully liberalizing sea links, the proposal still requires boats to dock in a third country while paperwork is processed.
The only difference would be that passengers would not be required to change boats in the third country.
The Taiwan delegation, led by Chenlan Temple's chairman Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) is in Fujian to discuss the direct boat service from Taichung to Meizhou Island, where the sea goddess Matsu is believed to have originated.
Official estimates show up to 100,000 pilgrims from Taiwan travel each year to the temple to attend celebrations commemorating Matsu's birthday.
Her birthday is on the 27th day of the third lunar month, which falls on the first day of May in the Roman calendar this year.
Because of Taiwan's ban on direct sea links with China, the pilgrims have just two choices if they are to go to Meizhou.
They can either go with the cheaper option of sailing illegally by fishing boat to Fujian.
Or they can transit through Hong Kong to Fujian.
But sea passage across the Taiwan Strait is often dangerous, particularly during the time of the pilgrimage.
This coincides with the northeast monsoon season and climaxes with the Sea Goddess' Ascension Day on Sept. 9.
Cheng said the boat service is expected to begin in June or July this year.
The direct four-hour boat journey from Taichung to Meizhou should be available one to four times a month. However, the service is expected to be one-way only.
Taiwanese pilgrimages would be allowed to disembark using the so-called "Taiwan compatriot's travel document" (
The document is a special permit issued by the Chinese government for Taiwan citizens who wish to travel to China.
Officials at the MAC had suggested that foreign registered chartered ships be allowed to shuttle between Taichung and Meizhou, via a third port of call such as Hong Kong or Ishigaki Island in southern Japan, to help facilitate the movement of pilgrims.
The US government has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan and the Philippines to boost the deterrence capabilities of countries in the first island chain, a report by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The main countries on the first island chain include the two nations and Taiwan. The bureau is to present the report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The US military has deployed Typhon missile systems to Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zambales province in the Philippines during their joint military exercises. It has also installed NMESIS anti-ship systems in Japan’s Okinawa
‘WIN-WIN’: The Philippines, and central and eastern European countries are important potential drone cooperation partners, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) in an interview published yesterday confirmed that there are joint ventures between Taiwan and Poland in the drone industry. Lin made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper). The government-backed Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Polish Chamber of Unmanned Systems on Wednesday last week signed a memorandum of understanding in Poland to develop a “non-China” supply chain for drones and work together on key technologies. Asked if Taiwan prioritized Poland among central and eastern European countries in drone collaboration, Lin
BACK TO WORK? Prosecutors said they are considering filing an appeal, while the Hsinchu City Government said it has applied for Ann Kao’s reinstatement as mayor The High Court yesterday found suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) not guilty of embezzling assistant fees, reducing her sentence to six months in prison commutable to a fine from seven years and four months. The verdict acquitted Kao of the corruption charge, but found her guilty of causing a public official to commit document forgery. The High Prosecutors’ Office said it is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to file an appeal. The Taipei District Court in July last year sentenced Kao to seven years and four months in prison, along with a four-year deprivation of civil rights, for contravening the Anti-Corruption
NO CONFIDENCE MOTION? The premier said that being toppled by the legislature for defending the Constitution would be a democratic badge of honor for him Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday announced that the Cabinet would not countersign the amendments to the local revenue-sharing law passed by the Legislative Yuan last month. Cho said the decision not to countersign the amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) was made in accordance with the Constitution. “The decision aims to safeguard our Constitution,” he said. The Constitution stipulates the president shall, in accordance with law, promulgate laws and issue mandates with the countersignature of the head of the Executive Yuan, or with the countersignatures of both the head of the Executive Yuan and ministers or
RSS