Independent legislator Chen Fu-hai (陳福海) accused the Cabinet yesterday of making an about-face on the small three links.
Chen’s remarks came one day after Government Information Office Minister Vanessa Shih (史亞平) said that Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) had asked the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) only for a draft proposal on expanding the small three links.
Shih’s statement came after Liu pledged on Friday to open the links to all members of the public within two weeks.
The small three links refer to direct shipping and trade services set up between Kinmen and Matsu and several ports in China’s Fujian Province since January 2001.
The direct routes are only open to those with household registrations on Kinmen and Matsu and to businesspeople working in Fujian. The links allow direct travel without having to transit in Hong Kong or Macau.
Opening the links to the public was one of President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) campaign promises.
Chen, who questioned Liu on the issue at a legislative question-and-answer session on Friday, said the premier should be held accountable for what he says.
The lawmaker said the policy flip-flop was a direct result of the mindset of certain MAC officials who see Kinmen as little more than a tool.
“I will contact MAC Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan (賴幸媛) on Monday and ask for an explanation of this policy twist,” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on Saturday that the planned expansion of the links “seems a bit too fast.”
Describing the expansion of the links as a national security issue, Tsai said the government must determine whether airport facilities are prepared.
She also said the government should explain why it removed direct cargo flights from its agenda for cross-strait talks this week.
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