Lawmakers continued preparations yesterday for a trial trip to China to test the possible limits of the opening of the "small three links."
Taiwan has said that it will open direct postal, transportation and trade links between its outlying island groups of Kinmen (金門) and Matsu (馬祖) and China's Xiamen (廈門) and Fuzhou (福州) cities on Jan. 1.
The trip, which lawmakers say seeks to determine China's attitude toward the opening of the links, will take place on Dec. 27. The trial voyage has been given the nod of approval from the nation's top cross-strait policy making body, the Mainland Affairs Council.
Chen Ching-pao (
The goal is to test whether the opening of the links will be undermined by China's possible disapproval.
Lawmakers will also arrange for officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Straits Exchange Foundation to participate in the trial run to evaluate the conditions of Xiamen Harbor.
The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday held a meeting with the legislature's Transportation and Communications Committee to discuss the opening of the links.
Chen Ken-te (
Chen said that Chinese officials last week asked for a trip schedule and a list of participants. Sources said preparations for the trial trip are well underway.
Beijing has remained silent about Taiwan's plans to open the small three links.
Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hao (李佳豪) on Sunday won a silver medal at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham, England, a career best. Lee, 25, took silver in the final of the men’s singles against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi (石宇奇) of China, who won 21-17, 21-19 in a tough match that lasted 51 minutes. After the match, the Taiwanese player, who ranks No. 22 in the world, said it felt unreal to be challenging an opponent of Shi’s caliber. “I had to be in peak form, and constantly switch my rhythm and tactics in order to score points effectively,” he said. Lee got
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