Taiwan, China launch direct shipping links

The passenger flights and sailings reflected the marked improvement in relations that began with the swearing-in seven months ago of the administration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

In sharp contrast to predecessor Chen Shui-bian, Ma favors tightening economic ties between the sides, and moving aggressively to reduce the decades of tension between them. The two split amid civil war in 1949.

China has reacted warmly and although the mainland still claims sovereignty over the self-governed island, both have agreed to set aside thorny political disputes to focus on trade. The two sides signed a pact early last month to open up the direct links.

Evergreen Marine's "Uni-Adroit" set sail for China's northern Tianjin port after a colorful inauguration ceremony at Kaohisung harbor presided over by Ma.

The direct links will allow the southern Taiwanese port to "take full advantage of its central geographical position in east Asia" and help revive the island's once-booming economy, Ma told a group of businesspeople at the ceremony.

Another ship left Taiwan's northern Keelung Port for Shanghai, while a mainland ship left Tianjin bound for Taiwan.

Monday also marked the start of cargo flights between the two that will number up to 60 per month, according to agreements signed Nov. 4.

A Trans Asia Airways jetliner was the first of several Taiwanese planes to leave for China, taking 148 Taiwanese tourists and businesspeople for the 80-minute flight to Shanghai. Taiwan's ERA Cable Station also aired footage of a China Eastern Airline jetliner departing for Taipei from the Shanghai airport.

The flights mean that travelers no longer need to switch planes at a third point - typically Hong Kong - while direct shipping precludes the need for vessels to make a brief stop at the Japanese island of Ishigaki.

Taiwan imposed the ban on regular links six decades ago. Former President Chen attempted to end it but failed to strike a deal with the mainland because of its deep distrust of him.

The new arrangements will save costs and generate new business as both Taiwan and China feel the pinch of the global economic slowdown, said Chiang Pin-kung, head of Taiwan's semiofficial Straits Exchange Foundation.

"This will contribute greatly to our economic development," said Chiang, who signed the air and shipping pacts with his Chinese counterpart, Chen Yunlin.

With annual bilateral trade at about US$100 billion, Taiwanese businesses have pushed for years to end the ban on direct links across the 100-mile (160-kilometer) wide Taiwan Strait.

In Beijing, Xu Lirong, executive vice president of the China Ocean Shipping Group Company, said the direct shipping links will cut the cost of the company's related freight business by 30 percent.

Xinhua News Agency quoted him as saying it would "bring new vigor to economic and trade ties" between the two sides.

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