In a move expected to further boost cross-strait confidence in the wake of Saturday's presidential elections, the legislature yesterday passed amendments to legislation which will ease the government's ban on the so-called "small three links" between Taiwan's offshore islands and China.
"It is a goodwill gesture from Taiwan," said KMT lawmaker Chen Ching-pao (
The revisions to the Offshore Islands Development Bill will allow Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu to open direct trade, transport and communications links with the mainland, lifting a ban of more than 50 years.
The bill still needs approval from the Cabinet and the President.
A full lifting of the "three links" ban between all of Taiwan and the mainland could be approved if the experiment is successful, according to Chen, who represents Kinmen in the legislature.
"It should be a trouble-free start," he said, although he admitted that it is a much more complicated issue to consider opening up the main island of Taiwan to direct links.
In recent years, residents of the three islands -- which are closer to China than they are to Taiwan -- have conducted sea trade with mainland fishing boats, buying seafood and other daily necessities from mainland fishermen with cash or through barter trade.
People traveling between China and Taiwan currently must change planes in Hong Kong or another third country, while ships crossing the Taiwan Strait must similarly dock at a third country's port or at least pick up new papers there.
Although the legal barriers from the Taiwan side have been criticized for adding unnecessary costs and red tape to the operations of those either traveling to or doing business in China, the government has maintained that opening up such links would endanger national security.
Several prominent business leaders have been outspoken in their opposition to the ban, such as Chang Jung-fa (
In reality, the ban has been openly defied by traders on the offshore islands for a number of years, as boats have been sailing directly to the mainland with both passengers and goods.
The unofficial direct exchanges have been tolerated by both sides.
Chinese boats also take part in the trade, which deliver fresh food and supplies from the mainland to the islands, home to a large military community.
Chen said duties would be imposed on goods traded between the two sides. It was also hoped that the move would increase tourist traffic to the region.
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