Taiwanese Businessmen Call for Early 'Three Direct Links'

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 21, 2003

Taiwanese Businessmen Call for Early 'Three Direct Links'

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

As the proposal of charter flights during the Spring Festival is approaching the operational phase, the voice for the "three links" runs high once again. Taiwanese scholars as well as personages in business circles stated in succession that the trend for "three links" across the Straits is irreversible. They hoped the authorities nod the "three direct links" as soon as possible so as to raise Taiwan's competitiveness.

Chairman with Formosa Plastics Group Wang Yongqing lately noted in an interview that currently Taiwan boasts an advantage over the mainland amid the economic development in terms of capital and experience. If Taiwan authorities open the "three links" right now, traders in the island province will be left with the first chance for development in the mainland. However, if the authorities stubbornly cling to their ideology and obstruct an early date of the opening, development of enterprises inside the island will be henceforth restricted.

Wang also said at present Taiwanese investors are confined to file individual application for investments in the mainland, which results in lack of overall competitiveness. Therefore, Taiwan authorities should further relax the ban on qualification of application to set up factories in the mainland, so that investors can establish an integrated chain of production.

Chairman with Acer Group Shi Zhenrong pointed out in Sci-tech Industry Innovation Summit that Taiwan needs to make use of not only the mainland's labor force but also the knowledge and intelligence. In his point of view, there is a chance that Taiwan will become the pioneering base for countries to tap and expand the Asian market in five years. But if the authorities do not fulfill the "three direct links" as soon as possible, they will miss the chance forever.

Shi expressed his hope that Taiwan will in 10 years become headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region of the most successful renowned multinationals and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. But more basically, the authorities should resolve the "three direct links" between the two sides without delay.

Charter flights, which pick up Taiwanese businessmen working and living on the mainland for family reunions during the Spring Festival, are due to start within one week. To date, six Taiwanese airlines, which undertake chartering flights, have begun to offer tickets booking service. Indirect charter flights, though fall far short of direct transport, are a hot issue for Taiwanese personages which are eagerly looking forward to "three direct links". Participants in the forum on charter flights during the Spring Festival to direct transport across the Straits on January 17 reiterated that it is an "unavoidable choice" for Taiwan authorities to realize direct transport.

Director with "Mainland Affairs Office" of Kuomintang Mr. Zhang Ronggong emphasized at the forum that the trend of "three direct links" is inevitable. Taiwan authorities should not vacillate over the issue, but unify the understanding and promote the settlement of the issue. Director with Policy Center of People First Party also held that if the authorities intend to deliver achievements in their ruling term, they should take efforts to advance direct transport.

By PD Online Staff Zhu Lizhen

Questions?Comments? Click here

Forty Shanghai-Taiwan Flights to Celebrate Holiday

Cross-Strait Indirect Charter Flights to Start This Month

Applications for Taiwan Direct Charter Flights Accepted

Bush Rejects China Mechanical Device Import Quota ( 4 Messages)

Reason for China's Development of Manned Spacecraft ( 5 Messages)

How's US$52.7bn Foreign Investment Introduced Into China? ( 5 Messages)

Chinese Bid Farewell to Outworn Doctrine of Egalitarianism ( 6 Messages)

Can US Strategic Intention be Realized? ( 3 Messages)