The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should strengthen mutual judicial assistance after the opening of the "small three links," a senior cross-strait affairs official said yesterday.
Lin Chong-pin (
In line with the Offshore Islands Development Act passed by the legislature earlier this year, the government is scheduled Jan. 1 to formally open direct trade, mail and shipping links between its defense outposts of Kinmen and Matsu, and China's Xiamen and Fuzhou ports, commonly known as the small three links, on a trial basis for one year.
Some people are worried that the opening of direct exchanges of people and goods between the two front-line islands and China may invite problems in legal order on both sides and a rise in the crime rate.
Responding to such worries, Lin said judicial organizations on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should reinforce mutual assistance and join forces to crack down on crime to ensure a smooth opening of the small three links.
Noting that the success of the small three links hinges on security management and safeguarding law and order, Lin said the Taiwan government looks forward to forging systematic consultative channels with China to facilitate orderly cross-strait exchanges and better protect the rights and interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Lin said the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the National Coast Guard Administration and other relevant government agencies have completed various security measures to curb possible illegal entry and exit, as well as smuggling and illegal transshipment of goods between Taiwan proper and China following the opening of the small three links.
Meanwhile, Lin said he regretted Legislator Chen Ching-pao's (陳清寶) decision to suspend a planned trial voyage, originally set for Dec. 26, between Kinmen and Xiamen before the formal opening of the links with a view to testing the safety of the new route. Chen was forced to cancel the plan mainly because of pressure from Beijing.
Lin called on China to adopt a pragmatic, positive manner to deal with cross-strait engagement to help foster mutual trust and rapprochement.
He further stressed that the government has no intention of promoting full-fledged direct cross-strait trade, mail and transport links, known as the "three links," by opening the small three links.
Nevertheless, Lin said he is convinced that the experience from implementing the small three links will be helpful to planning an orderly opening of the three links.
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