A Chinese cargo ship sailed into a Taiwanese harbor yesterday, the first such vessel to make the trip since Taiwan lifted a five-decade ban one year ago on direct shipping between its outlying islands and China.
The voyage -- which came on the first day after the Lunar New Year holiday -- was seen by some Taiwanese officials as a new goodwill gesture from China.
PHOTO: WU CHENG-TING, TAIPEI TIMES
In January last year, Taiwan ended the ban on direct shipping between China and the Taiwanese-controlled islands of Kinmen and Matsu, which are close to China's southeastern coast.
Taiwan lifted the restrictions without negotiating with China, which has insisted that Taiwan also end a ban on direct shipping and flights between China and Taiwan proper, separated by the 160km-wide Taiwan Strait.
Until yesterday, China had not allowed its cargo ships to sail directly to Kinmen and Matsu, though a few ships carrying Chinese tourists have made the voyage.
The Zhong Zhou, or Central Continent, was carrying several tonnes of sand from a port in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, about 10km from Kinmen.
The captain did not speak to reporters, and Chinese officials and state-run media did not immediately comment on the voyage.
Following Taiwanese regulations, the ship lowered the official Chinese flag on its mast before it entered the harbor.
Kinmen County Commissioner Lee Chu-feng (李炷烽) welcomed the ship and told ETTV cable news that its arrival at the start of the Lunar New Year was a sign of goodwill from China.
"This is the result of our efforts over the past year and the government's support. This is an even greater start to the year," Lee said.
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