Matsu's second airport inaugurated

As Matsu waves farewell to its military past and ushers in a new era of tourism, a new airport on its most populous island, Nankan, was opened yesterday following four years of construction.

The NT$2.2 billion Matsu Nankan Airport is Matsu's second airport, located only 5.5km from Peikan Airport, which was opened in 1994 on a neighboring island.

Premier Yu Shyi-kun, three ministers, lawmakers, transportation officials and local politicians presided over the new airport's opening ceremony and were entertained by lion dancing and musical performances.

UNI Airways is the only airline running flights between Taipei and Matsu's two airports. The airline operates six flights from Taipei to Nankan and six flights from Nankan to Taipei daily, while running three flights from Taipei to Peikan and three flights from Peikan to Taipei per day.

However both airports have yet to be equipped with navigation systems, forcing pilots to land using visual measurements and ruling out the possibility of night flights.

"This is the first time in my life that I have been to Matsu. I am very excited," Yu said.

"In the past, Matsu stood on the front line to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion," Yu said.

Although Matsu was demilitarized after 1992, the government's focus on the livelihoods of the people of Matsu's people had not diminished at all, Yu said.

"The government does its utmost in taking care of the Matsu islanders. The completion of Nankan Airport is only one example of the government's projects designed to improve the lives of those who live here," Yu said.

Yu quoted Sun Yat-sen (孫中山) as saying that the importance of transportation to a nation is like the significance of blood vessels to a man's health.

"The absence of an airport on Nankan Island has caused great inconvenience to the people here," Yu added.

Yu said the government passed regulations to develop offshore islands in 2000, adding that the government has also decreased business tax and tariffs on the islands in a bid to boost their economies.

Yu said Matsu and Kinmen play significant roles in the three small links between Taiwan and China.

"Around 15,000 Taiwanese businessmen based in China will return to Taiwan through either Kinmen or Matsu for the Lunar New Year," Yu said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) said Nankan Airport will help boost Matsu's tourism and economy.