Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian announced Friday in Tainan City, southern Taiwan, four new measures regarding the interests of Taiwan businessmen operating in the mainland.
Speaking at a dinner party organized by the Mainland Affairs Council for a group of Taiwan businessmen working in the mainland, the president said the current direct shipping links between the country's two frontline islands, Kinmen and Matsu, and Xiamen and Fuzhou, the two mainland port cities right across from them, will be extended to other ports of Fujian province in southern China if Beijing agrees.
Taiwan businessmen working wherever in the mainland, rather than only those working in Fujian province, will be allowed to use the shipping links, said Chen.
He also promised to enlarge the planned one-way charter cargo flights from Taiwan to the mainland to two-way charter flights between Taiwan and the mainland, and will allow mainland Chinese carriers to provide this service. But the flights should be opened on the condition that Beijing will negotiate with Taiwan on the issue without any political prerequisites.
The president also promised to cut the red tape for Taiwan businessmen to claim insurance payments from Taiwan for their medical treatment in the mainland under the current National Health Insurance program.
The last of the four measures is to increase government subsidies to Taiwan schools in the mainland to about NT$30,000 (US$900) per student.
Calling them the country's most valuable assets, the president said the government's policy of taking good care of Taiwan businessmen in the mainland is beyond any partisan benefit, and would not be affected by any political factors.