Local businessmen voice opinions to cross-strait panel

Local businessmen called for the establishment of the three links at a trio of meetings held by Economic Development Advisory Conference's cross-strait affairs panel in eastern, central and southern Taiwan yesterday.

Most attendees at the three meetings urged the Mainland Affair Council to establish direct postal, shipping and air links with China and to modify the "no haste, be patient" (戒急用忍) policy to help improve Taiwan's lagging economy. They further called for the ban on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan to be lifted.

"Taiwan's main problem isn't about the economy but confidence. If the government allows Chinese and foreign investments, Taiwanese would get their confidence back," said Lai Cheng-yi (賴正鎰), president of the Taichung Chamber of Commerce.

Chang Wan-tung (張萬同), a professor at Fu Jen Catholic University, called the government's hesitation to establish the three links incomprehensible.

"Hong Kong has been handed over to China, but everything from Taiwan to China still needs to go through Hong Kong. Does it mean anything?" Chang said.

At the conference in Hualien, legislator Chang Fu-shing (張福興), a businessmen in Hualien's tourism industry, pressed for the lifting of the ban on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan in order to increase employment opportunities in his area.

In Taichung, conference attendees from both Taichung and Hualien offered detailed plans for ports in their counties to become the first direct-shipping ports.

The Taichung County government's representative hoped that the council could pick the Taichung port as the first direct-shipping port, because it is closest to China and has the widest hinterland.

A representative from the Yunlin County government, however, hoped that the council could map out the Mailiao Port as a special cross-strait economic zone to develop Taiwan's traditional industries.

"If the government doesn't want to establish the three links soon, Mailiao can be a cross-strait economic zone," said Hsu Ming-wen (許銘文), the representative from Yunlin County.

Lin Po-chun (林柏鈞), a shipping company president from Hualien, however, said China should be held responsible for the deadlock on the three links, given Beijing's refusal to talk to the Taiwan government.

"I look forward to the establishment of the three links. But should we establish the three links while China still refuses to acknowledge anything about Taiwan?" Lin said.

Lin also slammed the Mainland Affair Council for taking no action to counter the Taiwan media, most of which are siding with Beijing.

"It's not reasonable that the Taiwan media stand behind China and forces the Taiwan government to establish the three links, but ignore the fact that China should be pushed on the issue too," Lin said.