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MAC reaffirms equality in direct cross-strait shipping services

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, Dec.28 (CNA) Taiwan-owned but foreign-registered ships are entitled to operate direct shipping services across the Taiwan Strait on an equal basis, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairwoman Lai Shin-yuan said Sunday.

Lai was responding to media reports that the 20 Taiwan-owned, foreign-registered vessels would all be barred from entering Chinese ports from the beginning of next year, which critics said would eventually lead to China's monopoly of cross-strait gravel shipping services and even its dominance of Taiwan's gravel market.

According to the bilateral agreement signed Nov.4 on the launch of direct shipping links, Lai said, the two sides agree that all those ships can ply direct cross-strait routes on an equal basis so long as they had been operating gravel shipping business before the Dec.15 inauguration of direct shipping links.

"Equal participation is the guiding principle in dealing with issues regarding direct cross-strait shipping services, " Lai said, adding that if there is any problem or discrimination in relevant operations, the government will address it through negotiations.

Meanwhile, MAC Vice Chairman Fu Dong-cheng said the two intermediary bodies -- Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) -- clearly outlined the "equal participation" principle for direct shipping service operations when they signed direct shipping links accord.

"The equal participation principle applies to all vessels that had been involved in indirect cross-strait shipping services, including gravel shipment, before the opening of direct shipping links," Fu reiterated.

On a reported incident in which a Taiwanese gravel ship was barred from entering China's Huangpu port last week even though it had a certificate issued by Taiwan's Taichung Harbor Bureau, Fu said he had gained a better understanding of China's stance through a communication channel.

According to Fu, China has offered two formulas for Taiwanese vessels to apply for permissions to enter its ports. The first way is to file an online application for each voyage and the other is to apply for a long-term permit. Vessels that had operated indirect cross-strait shipping services in the past can apply for long-term entry permits through their shipping agents.

Quoting Chinese sources, Fu said, Chinese authorities have so far not yet received any application from Taiwanese shipowners. Fu said the MAC has asked the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to look into the situation.

Fu further said some differences still exist between the two sides' shipping regulations. Among others, China would not allow entry of commercial vessels older than 33 years. As gravel shipping charges are usually very low, shipping companies tend to use old vessels.

"We'll ask the MOTC to study whether China's 'age' limit is reasonable, " Fu said, adding that if necessary, the two sides will negotiate a solution through two non-governmental intermediary bodies -- Taiwan's Taiwan Strait Shipping Association and China's Association for Shipping Across the Taiwan Strait. (By Sofia Wu) enditem