Of the China policies proposed by the three major presidential candidates, the opening up of direct shipping, air and trade links with Beijing has won the most approval from business people investing in China.
"Expenses and time spent on transportation will be at least 50 percent less after the ban on direct cross-strait shipping and air links is lifted," said John Hwang (
Hwang was speaking in his capacity as a Taiwan investor in China.
Taiwan has banned direct transport, trade and communication links with China since 1949. While most cross-strait shipment and trade is currently conducted through Hong Kong, Taiwanese business people have long urged the government to lift the ban in order to reduce their transportation costs.
KMT candidate Lien Chan (連戰), independent James Soong (宋楚瑜) and the DPP's Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) have all made opening up the links part of their China policies.
Lien has promised to let cross-strait relations enter a mid-way level -- when the so-called "three links" will be opened up -- on condition that Beijing takes concrete steps to respond to Taipei's call for terminating cross-strait hostilities.
Soong has pledged to try and resume cross-strait negotiations and discuss with Beijing the possibility of opening up links, if elected.
Chen, meanwhile, has proposed opening up direct shipping links and a "one-way" air link. For security reasons, only Taiwanese aircraft would be allowed to fly direct cross-strait routes in Chen's proposal.
Hwang said of the proposals raised by the three camps, that Soong's is the most attractive to Taiwanese business people, while he criticized proposals for not being feasible.
"Negotiations are bilateral, and China has the power to decide whether to allow Taiwanese aircraft to fly the route or not," Hwang said.
Yao Li-ming (
Yao said policies adopted by the government had not increased the country's security, but had simply become a shackle for business people.
Yao said it was already too late to negotiate with China over opening up links.
"After joining the World Trade Organization, who cares whether Taiwan supports opening up links or not?" Yao said.
Agreeing with Yao, New Party legislator Lai Shyh-bao (
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