The Ministry of Transportation and Communications denied a report yesterday that said travel limitations on ships going to China would not be imposed when the "small three links" open up.
The ministry was commenting on a local newspaper report which said the government would not stop ships, traveling from Kinmen and Matsu, going to various destinations in China.
The "small three links" refers to direct trade, mail and transportation links between Taiwan's two frontline islands and selected ports in China.
According to a draft proposal of the "small three links" prepared by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taiwan will open Liaolo port in Kinmen and Fuao port in Matsu for direct shipping services to the ports of Xiamen and Mawei in China's Fujian province.
The report said, quoting unattributed sources, that the MAC had told local shipping companies their vessels would not be confined to sailing to Xiamen and Mawei, but would be allowed to dock at any other destination in China.
Officials said the report was misleading and stressed there had been no fundamental change in the government's policy toward the "small three links" issue.
Based on MAC-initiated guidelines, shipping services will strictly adhere to "point-to-point, scheduled and fixed routes," the officials confirmed.
According to the proposed schedule, shipping companies will be allowed to operate regular direct operations between Liaolo and Xiamen and Fuao and Mawei.
"In this regard, no about-face policy changes have been made," an official from the transportation and communications ministry said.
As for chartered shipping services the government would screen applications for chartered direct shipments from Kinmen and Matsu to China in accordance with policy and security management requirements.
"This does not imply that there will be no restrictions on mainland destinations," the official said.
He admitted, however, that transportation officials had invited executives of major shipping industry associations and companies for talks the previous day.
"As unscheduled chartered shipping services were among the topics discussed at the meeting, local media might have confused these with the scheduled, fixed-route services," the official said.
The report also said that vessels from Taiwan and China would be given priority to operate the Liaolo to Xiamen and Fuao to Mawei shipping routes.
Quoting transportation officials, the report said foreign-owned ships would not be allowed to sail either route.
The report also said the government would not impose size restrictions on vessels allowed to operate the routes. Ships of up to 3,000 tonnes can dock in Liaolo, and Fuao can accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes.
The report also said ships allowed to ply the new routes would not fly Taiwan's or China's national flags.
Transportation officials would not divulge any details of the proposed regulations for the new shipping services as they were still awaiting Cabinet approval.
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