A possible trial run of the "small three links" will only come about if the governments of China and Taiwan both approve the trip, KMT lawmaker Chen Ching-pao (
"We would't bother with the trip if either of the two countries' authorities are against the initiative. ? And that is exactly the purpose of this journey: to better ascertain the attitude of the Chinese government concerning the `small three links'" (小三通) by testing the waters before the plan is officially launched," Chen, a legislator from Kinmen (金門), told the Taipei Times.
From Taiwan's perspective, Chen said he was very optimistic about the trip. He was unwilling to say that the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) had officially given the nod to his proposal, but noted that the crux of the problem was contingent mostly upon the attitude of China.
"We understand it is a pressing issue, with only a few days left before the trip is to take place, and we have been in close contact with the Xiamen (
The trial trip planned to take place between Dec. 28 and Dec. 30 and will go between Liaoluo Harbor (料羅) on Kinmen and Heping Harbor (和平) in Xiamen. In an effort to downplay the sensitive event, Chen said no national flag would be hung on the vessel.
"Nearly 80 people -- consisting of roughly 20 legislators, 10 aides to legislators, 40 journalists and some local representatives of Kinmen island -- have signed up to join the trip," Chen said. "The group will inspect the equipment at Xiamen Harbor, visit the Xiamen governor and exchange opinions with scholars from Xiamen University at a symposium."
Taiwan unilaterally announced on Dec. 13 that it will open direct postal, transportation and trade links between Taiwan's outlying island groups of Kinmen and Matsu (
However, lawmakers have expressed concern in light of China's lukewarm response.
Lawmakers have warned that Taiwan would only embarrass itself if it unilaterally lifted the ban on Chinese traveling without crystal-clear consent from China.
When questioned by the media about whether the experimental trip will be in violation of the law on the grounds that the ban will not be formally eased until Jan. 1, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) conceded that the matter deserved more discussion.
The trip will take place during the lapse period of the law, he pointed out, adding that the council would allow more leniency on the affair.
"I don't think it is necessary for the public to overly interpret the issue because we respect the thoughts of lawmakers and we know the idea will facilitate communication between Taiwan and China," the MAC official said.
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
WARNING: People in coastal areas need to beware of heavy swells and strong winds, and those in mountainous areas should brace for heavy rain, the CWA said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued sea and land warnings for Typhoon Ragasa, forecasting that it would continue to intensify and affect the nation the most today and tomorrow. People in Hualien and Taitung counties, and mountainous areas in Yilan and Pingtung counties, should brace for damage caused by extremely heavy rain brought by the typhoon’s outer rim, as it was upgraded to a super typhoon yesterday morning, the CWA said. As of 5:30pm yesterday, the storm’s center was about 630km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving northwest at 21kph, and its maximum wind speed had reached
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said that it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Ragasa this morning and a land warning at night as it approached Taiwan. Ragasa intensified from a tropical storm into a typhoon at 8am yesterday, the CWA said, adding that at 2pm, it was about 1,110km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip. The typhoon was moving northwest at 13kph, with sustained winds of up to 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA Web site showed. Forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said that Ragasa was projected to strengthen as it neared the Bashi Channel, with its 200km
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hualien and Taitung counties declared today a typhoon day, while schools and offices in parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties are also to close Typhoon Ragasa was forecast to hit its peak strength and come closest to Taiwan from yesterday afternoon through today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Taiwan proper could be out of the typhoon’s radius by midday and the sea warning might be lifted tonight, it added. CWA senior weather specialist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said that Ragasa’s radius had reached the Hengchun Peninsula by 11am yesterday and was expected to hit Taitung County and Kaohsiung by yesterday evening. Ragasa was forecast to move to Taiwan’s southern offshore areas last night and to its southwestern offshore areas early today, she added. As of 8pm last night,
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