KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) has criticized Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) for his public reservations about reopening the limited cross-strait connections known as the “Three Mini Links.” Su says that the opaque state of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and possible overbuying and hoarding of medicines by Chinese travelers mean a decision on the issue requires more time.
The “Three Mini Links” describe special connections between the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu and areas of China’s Fujian Province. These connections include transportation, trade, and postal services. The KMT has further advocated for the resumption of direct flights between these areas.
At the KMT Central Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday, Chu said that Premier Su’s concerns are “absurd” and “unacceptable.” He said that the Taiwanese people would benefit the most from restoring the three links and direct flights, especially businesses on the small outlying islands.
Chu added that concerns about Chinese travelers overbuying medicines are overblown. He said that if China has a shortage of medicines and Taiwan has a surplus, Taiwan should help out if it can. He added that this type of goodwill might even improve the atmosphere around cross-strait relations.
Chu said that the KMT aims to improve economic and trade relations with China, and called for the recent Chinese ban on certain Taiwanese food and alcohol products to be lifted as soon as possible.