China calls for direct transport links with Taiwan

Beijing (Agencies): China's foreign trade minister urged Taiwan on Wednesday to start the ball rolling on opening direct air and shipping links with the mainland.

Shi Guansheng also warned of unspecified "serious political trouble" if China's diplomatic allies entered into free trade agreements with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province that must be returned to the fold, by force if necessary. "Let's not talks about it anymore.

Let's do it," Shi told a news conference on the sidelines of 16th Congress of the Communist Party, referring to direct trade, transport and communication links.

Direct links have been banned since Beijing and Taipei split at the end of a civil war in 1949. The two sides are still diplomatic and military rivals, but their economies have become increasingly intertwined with trade and investment booming.

"It's a domestic issue, a cross-strait issue. Let it be done on a non-governmental and business level. It should be free from any political Interference," he Said.

Beijing and Taipei are split over whether direct flights should be considered domestic or international and whether talks should be official or non-governmental.

Last week, China's president and party chief, Jiang Zemin, called for the two sides to put aside their differences and return to the negotiating table.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has called repeatedly for direct links with China, but has dragged his feet apparently because the tiny island of 23 million people fears it would become an economic hostage to China.

Shi also warned against China's diplomatic allies signing any free trade agreement with Taiwan.

Meanwhile, a survey showed on Wednesday that more than half of Taiwan wants direct transport links with China...

Taiwan on Tuesday allowed its air carriers to fly indirectly to China for the first time, although it stopped short of allowing direct chartered flights, citing security concerns.

Fifty-one percent of people polled by cable television station TVBS said "yes" when to the immediate opening of direct transport links with China, while 30 percent objected to the idea.

Forty-five percent said Taiwan would benefit if the ban on "three direct links" — transport, commerce and post — was lifted, with 30 percent saying it would hurt the economy.