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The White Paper says: "In view of realities in cross-Straits relations, the Chinese Government advocates that the two sides actively push ahead with economic cooperation and all kinds of contacts, undertake direct post and telecommunications, direct trade and direct air and water transportation as well as two-way exchanges in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, mutual complementation and mutual benefits, thereby creating conditions for peaceful reunification."
It is a pressing requirement of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to realize direct post and telecommunications services, trade, and air and water transportation at the earliest possible date. Opening up direct channels across the Straits for post and telecommunications can meet people's requirement for communication, save expenses of transit services and improve the quality of all kinds of post and telecommunications services; direct air and water transportation across the Straits can provide safe, simple, convenient and economical transportation conditions, further expand personnel exchanges and economic cooperation between the two sides and promote common progress and prosperity. The Chinese Government advocates that political divergence should not disturb and affect economic cooperation between the two sides of the Straits. But the Taiwan authorities have stubbornly refused to lift their ban on direct links with the mainland in post and telecommunications, trade, and air and water transportation under the pretexts of "reciprocity," "security" and "dignity." What's more, using this as a political card, they are pressing for compromise on such major political issues of principle as "equal political entities" and "international living space." These are meant to set up road blocks for direct post and telecommunications services, direct trade, and direct air and water transportation.
At present, with a further development of economic relations across the Straits as well as the subsequent expansion of personnel and other exchanges, indirect post and telecommunications services, trade, and air and water transportation have fallen far behind increasing demand. In addition, since Hong Kong has returned to the embrace of the motherland, and Macao is also to return in the near future, there has been an ever louder call from people on both sides of the Straits, especially business circles in Taiwan, for the realization of direct cross-Straits links in post and telecommunications, trade, and air and water transportation at the earliest possible date. The Taiwan authorities' repeated procrastination and stubborn refusal in this regard has caused inconvenience to people on both sides of the Straits, especially Taiwan's business circles, and greatly increased their social cost. Such policies, if they are to continue, will become ever more unpopular. We hope the Taiwan authorities will comply with the aspiration of the people, lift their ban on direct cross-Straits links in post and telecommunications, trade, and air and water transportation at the earliest possible date so as to facilitate a gradual peaceful reunification of the motherland.
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