Su reveals links expansion set to include Quanzhou

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on April 26, 2006. It reports that the government in Taiwan recently announced a package of three measures to expand the scope of the "small direct links" between Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu and various ports in China's Fujian Province.

Starting from May 2006, residents of Kinmen and Matsu (and natives of the islands) no longer have to travel with tour groups when travelling between Kinmen and Xiamen or between Matsu and Fuzhou. Originally, only persons who had their household registrations in Kinmen or Matsu could take advantage of the program.

Meanwhile, the spouses and direct relatives (and their spouses and minor children) can be included in the scope for "small direct links", regardless of whether they are natives of Kinmen or Matsu.

Finally, a third ferry route will be opened between Kinmen and China's Quanzhou port in June 2006. Although China has only allowed ferries to operate between Kinme and Xiamen and between Matsu and Fuzhou, the concept of the "small direct links" did not place any restrictions on what ports in China could be utilized or which routes could be used.

For example, Taiwan's Kinmen-Xiamen Marine Company has submitted an application to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in Taiwan, in order to operate a ferry service between Kinmen's Shuitou port and China's Quanzhou port. If the application is approved, then trial runs will begin on April 20. The government expects the route to begin operation in June 2006, as soon as final procedures are completed.

In the mean time, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration and other agencies will hold joint sea rescue exercises and training, in order to cover the risk involved in the increasing ferry and marine traffic between Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu and China's Fujian Province. Relevant agencies from China are also welcome to participate in such exercises. Indeed, the government in Taiwan expects that uncertainty and risk in the two-way ferry travel can be reduced to the minimum through coordinated exercises between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The "small direct links" were liberalized in 2001. According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, as of February 2006, a total of 9,970 ferry trips had taken place between Taiwan and China, carrying 671,297 persons.