High waves and strong winds kept the Peaceful Sea (
The Peaceful Sea's trip to China's southeastern port of Xiamen would have been the first in more than five decades, marking Taiwan's opening of direct links between its outlying islands and China.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
The voyage lasted a little over an hour. Shortly after the boat had begun its trip, Captain Hong Ya-di (洪亞地) contacted the captain of a launch full of reporters, including one from the Taipei Times, which was ahead of his boat, to enquire about sea conditions.
At first Hong was encouraged to continue, but conditions became worse, especially nearing the southeastern tip of the island, where two strong currents meet and shallow water creates turbulence.
Conditions became rough, with swells of between two and three meters in height as well as strong winds. Most of the photographers on the boat and television cameramen became seasick.
"The waves and the wind were really big," Hong said when he returned to Kinmen's Liaoluo Port, citing conditions and safety concerns as a reason for his return.
Some, however, believed that the trip was canceled for political reasons, either because of China's interference or because the trip would have made a high-profile voyage of officials and local associations from Kinmen, scheduled for today anti-climactic.
A Chinese port official in Xiamen, who refused to be named, said he himself believed the trip was scotched for political reasons. Neither Taiwan nor China wanted a private group to inaugurate direct links, he said.
The organizer of the tour group, Ho Chin-liang (
"Our ship is allowed to make a port call at nearly all of the mainland harbors according to their laws," Ho said.
With glum expressions on their faces, several passengers stepped off the vessel and pushed their way through a big pack of reporters. Others tried to be more good natured while struggling to conceal their disappointment.
"We can wait five more minutes to sail over but we can't wait another 50 years," said Hsu Der-lin (許得林), an engineer, who like the other passengers, was a Kinmen resident. Hsu said that, regardless of whether the boat had reached Xiamen or not, it had achieved its purpose.
"By now the news is on CNN," Hsu said.
Today, two more boats plan to set sail to China with 192 passengers on board. The boats will be led by Kinmen County Commissioner Chen Shui-tsai (
The Kinmen County Government's trip to Xiamen was organized by two Kinmen County Government officials in mid-December. Social Affairs Bureau Director Tsai Shih-min (蔡是民) said that in mid-December he and another county government official went to China to hammer out the details of the trip.
"Any way you look at it we have to create links," Tsai said. "We've done that now because we were able to put aside political issues."
While yesterday's private trip to China floundered, Chen Shui-tsai said that while he was not an expert, it was unlikely that his boat would have to turn back after heading out to sea.
"Our boats are a lot bigger and maybe this will be something that individuals on private vessels should take into consideration in the future," Chen said yesterday.
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