Tsai says links will require more time

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated yesterday that it would take six months to evaluate the feasibility of the "small three links" (小三通).

The "small three links" are direct communication, transportation and trade links between Taiwan's outlying islands of Penghu, Matsu and Kinmen with China.

Unstable cross-strait relations have prevented the MAC from proposing a timetable for opening such links, Tsai said.

In the wake of recent controversy over a group of pilgrims' intention to sail directly to China to worship the sea goddess Matsu (媽祖) on July 16, Tsai said the issue was "not a pure pilgrimage" case, but a complex one that involved cross-strait relations.

Tsai said the government has proposed the opening of direct transportation, communications and trade links between Taiwan proper and China -- the so-called "big three links" (大三通) -- but insisted opening the "small three links," which would connect Taiwan's outlying islands and China, needed to come first.

Direct sailing from Taiwan to China for religious purposes falls under the government's category of the "big three links," and as such, the government is unlikely to approve the move.

"I believe the sea goddess Matsu realizes our positive intentions. And if it takes time for us to complete the evaluation, I am sure [Matsu] will understand," said Tsai.

Tsai made the statement at a meeting of the Home and Nations Committee at the Legislative Yuan in response to a related question from KMT legislator Lin Kuo-lung (林國龍).

Tsai said national security and related measures are paramount in establishing the "small three links," and said opening links can only come with cross-strait negotiations.

Tsai also said if China expressed goodwill to the MAC's intentions, the council would consider liberalizing related issues to ease links, Tsai said.

The government, for example, may consider the "decriminalization of small-scale trade" (小額貿易除罪化), Tsai said.

Tsai's proposal came in response to rampant smuggling of goods such as fish between China and Taiwan's outlying islands.

A MAC written report released at the committee yesterday indicated that China had set up related regulations to legalize such trade between Taiwan and China. The MAC has interpreted the move as an encouragement for civilians in Taiwan to conduct small-scale trade with their counterparts in China.

In May, 1999, China set up a special zone for small-scale trade on Fujian Province's Dadeng island (大嶝島), opposite Kinmen island.