Q: Explain the "Mini Three Links" and "Three Direct Links" across the Taiwan Strait.

A: The "Mini Three Links" refer to the direct ship, personnel and business exchanges between the coastal areas of Fujian province, including Xiamen and Mawei, and the outlying islands of Jinmen and Matsu administered by Taiwan.

After the retreat of the Kuomintang authorities in the late 1940s, Taiwan announced the cessation of all forms of commerce, navigation and mail services with the Chinese mainland. This separation lasted nearly 40 years, preventing residents from traveling between the two regions. Due to geographical proximity, Fujian and Taiwan have many people with blood relations who are eager to visit each other.

In 1987, the Taiwan authorities relaxed restrictions for residents to visit the mainland for family reunions, leading to increased economic and personnel exchanges in the coastal areas. However, significant ideological differences between the two sides at the time hindered direct exchanges, greatly impeding economic development.

In 1992, Fujian proposed the concept of "Mini Three Links" to facilitate small-scale exchanges between the closely located areas, as a flexible approach beneficial for people-to-people interactions at the time.

In 2000, under strong pressure from the public in Taiwan, the island administration unilaterally announced the trial implementation of the regulations that allowed residents of Jinmen and Matsu to travel to the mainland by ships and engage in small-scale trade in the mainland starting from Jan 1, 2001.

The mainland adhered to the principle of promoting anything beneficial to the residents of Jinmen and Matsu and began opening direct ships and trade between the two shores.

The "Three Direct Links" of direct mail, flight and shipping services between the mainland and Taiwan were officially launched on Dec 15, 2008.

At 8:05 am that day, China Eastern Airlines flight MU2075 carrying 150 passengers took off from Shanghai Pudong Airport, no longer having to pass through Hong Kong's flight information region as before, took a direct route to Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport. The new flight route saved over an hour compared to previous weekend charter flights.

The "direct links" across the Strait mean that ships and aircraft no longer need to detour through a third location due to artificial restrictions, saving fuel and time. A "one-day life circle", where one could attend a meeting in Shanghai in the morning and have dinner in Taipei in the evening, thus became a reality.

SOURCE: ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS IN 70 YEARS