China Introduces 'Unique' Initiatives to Enhance Taiwan's Connectivity with Coastal Fujian

Beijing has put forth a proposal to transform Fujian province into a designated area for comprehensive collaboration with Taiwan.

This move is ushering in a series of distinctive policy initiatives aimed at facilitating Taiwanese businesses' entry into Fujian province via the Taiwan Strait. This strategic move aligns with a comprehensive, long-term plan for cross-strait integrated development.

Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, disclosed that China is committed to intensifying the integration between Xiamen, a Chinese city, and the Taiwan-administered Kinmen islands. This entails expediting the establishment of essential infrastructure connections, encompassing gas, electricity, and transportation, bridging the two entities.

These progressive measures are part of China's recent announcement to designate coastal Fujian province as an integrated development zone in association with Taiwan, despite Taiwan's steadfast rejection of China's territorial claims over the island.

China has persistently presented Taiwan with two options: cooperation leading to peace and prosperity or resistance leading to stagnation and conflict. Notably, China's air force continued its incursions into Taiwan's air defense zone, an act Taiwan views as recurrent provocation.

China's commitment extends to granting Kinmen, situated in close proximity to Xiamen but under Taiwan's administration, access to Xiamen's newly constructed airport. Additionally, Beijing endorses the exploration of new energy collaborations between Taiwan (which it perceives as a Chinese province) and Ningde, a Fujian city located north of Xiamen.

Furthermore, the establishment of an experimental development zone in Pingtan, China's nearest point to the main Taiwan island across the strait, will be expedited. China is also pursuing the construction of a high-speed railway connecting both sides of the strait, with an emphasis on expediting its completion.

In response to these developments, certain Fujian-based companies experienced notable gains in their stock values on Thursday, in contrast to the relatively stable broader market performance. Shares of Strait Innovation Internet and Zhongfu Straits Pingtan Development Co, both headquartered in Pingtan, surged by 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Source: Aljazeera.com