Editing Three Links (section)

==History==
===Proposal===
In December 1978, [[Deng Xiaoping]] and his supporters won the [[3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party]], starting China's economic reform.  This also began a new direction in the [[Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China|PRC's foreign policy]].<ref name="Lin">Lin, Zhiling. Robinson, Thomas W. [1994] (1994). The Chinese and Their Future: Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong. Published by American Enterprise Institute. {{ISBN|0-8447-3804-2}}. pg 356.</ref>  On January 1, 1979, Beijing proposed the Three Links of postal, commercial and transportation.<ref name="Lin" /> It was also proposed together with the [[Four flows/Four exchanges]] which included relatives, tourists, academic groups, cultural groups and sports representatives.<ref name="Tsang" /><ref name="Lin" /> This was greeted in Taiwan by [[Republic of China]] (ROC) President [[Chiang Ching-kuo]]'s [[Three Noes]].

===Lead-up to liberalization===
{{see also|Cross-straits relations}}
While the PRC and ROC agreed in principle on opening the Three Links, there were overriding concerns. According to the [[Mainland Affairs Council]] (MAC) of the ROC, the major obstacle resided in the PRC's [[One China|One-China]] position which does not recognize the sovereignty of the ROC. The Council stated that the Three links would only be considered when the PRC stopped its animosity against ROC sovereignty and improved the [[cross-strait relations]]hip.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.mac.gov.tw/big5/economy/8810.htm | title = 兩岸「三通」政策說明 | publisher = Mainland Affairs Council | place = Formosa}}.</ref> The [[Government of China|PRC government]] considers the cross-strait flights as domestic flights, according to the [[One China Policy]]. However, the ROC's Democratic Progressive Party government in Taiwan regarded this position the same as recognizing Taiwan (ROC) as a part of the PRC and thus would compromise the ROC sovereignty.

The previous administration led by President [[Chen Shui-bian]], who was in power from 2000 to 2008, was keen to establish direct links under his "four noes and one without" pledge. China reacted with caution however, and was eventually infuriated when Chen spoke of "[[One Country on Each Side|Taiwan and China on each side of the Taiwan Strait, each side is a country]]", and the Taiwanese administration believed establishment of the links would not be possible. However, China eventually shifted its position when it realized that the three links may be an opportunity to hold on to Taiwan, with its [[Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China|Minister of Transport]] and former [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] [[Qian Qichen]] declaring that the "one China" principle would no longer be necessary during talks to establish the links, which would be labelled merely as "special cross-strait flights" and not "international" nor "domestic" flights.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2008/06/20/2003415198 | newspaper = Taipei Times | title = Editorial | date = 2008-06-20}}.</ref>

In 2004, Beijing proposed a cross-strait [[controlled-access highway]] project linking [[Beijing]] to [[Taipei]] connecting the two sides of the [[Taiwan Straits]] together. However, due to the potential technical difficulties, some people in Taipei consider this move as political propaganda.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GA14Aa01.html | newspaper = The Standard | title = Mainland to triple highway network | place = Hong Kong | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071223090134/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Front_Page/GA14Aa01.html | archive-date = 2007-12-23 }}.</ref>

The Three Links are mentioned in the [[Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China]].

===Limited liberalization===
{{main|Cross-strait charter}}
[[Image:Ci581 pek.JPG|right|thumb|On January 29, 2005, [[China Airlines]] flight CAL581 landed in [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]].]]
[[File:Shijing - Quanzhou-Jinmen Ferry Terminal - DSCF8837.JPG|thumb|The mainland China terminal for the Quanzhou-Kinmen ferry, in [[Shijing, Nan'an, Fujian|Shijing]] Town]]

Under the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP) government, gradual steps were taken to lift restrictions on the three links. The so-called '''Little Three Links''', also referred to as '''Mini Three Links''' or '''Three Small Links''' (小三通; xiǎo sān tōng)<ref name="cga">{{cite map|url=https://www.cga.gov.tw/GipOpen/wSite/public/Attachment/f1518579482629.pdf|script-title=zh:金門地區離島通航航道公告圖|language=zh-tw|access-date=25 August 2019 |date=n.d.<!--Likely from 2007 or after since map includes the words "民國96年各方測量"-->|website=[[Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan)]]|quote={{lang|zh|小三通航道}} Mini-three-links Route<!--north of Quemoy-->}}</ref> allows for limited postal, transportation, and trade links between the People's Republic of China's [[Fujian]] province cities of [[Xiamen]], [[Mawei District|Mawei]] and [[Quanzhou]], and the islands of [[Kinmen]] and [[Matsu islands|Matsu]], which are administered by the Republic of China. When introduced in January 2001, they allowed only those with household registrations in Kinmen and Matsu to use the trade links, as well as China-based Taiwan businessmen. Travels must be done in groups. Restrictions were lifted to allow individual travelers, as well as to open the routes to former residents and relatives of Kinmen and Matsu. Quanzhou was also added to the list in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNOcejbb9CBsqzad2uKTOdFHafdg|title=AFP: Taiwan expands shipping links with China: official}}</ref>

The ferry trip, which takes at least 30 minutes, involved regular routes connecting Kinmen 
to the ports of Xiamen and Quanzhou, and Matsu  to [[Mawei]]. Occasional trips were also made between Kinmen and [[Meizhou]], a popular religious site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/19/content_8401942.htm|title=Taiwan residents allowed to take direct sea service from Kinmen, Matsu to mainland_English_Xinhua|date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422043524/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/19/content_8401942.htm |archive-date=2009-04-22 }}</ref> The routes saw 21,377 entries and exits in 2001. It ballooned to 341,152 in 2006,<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/06/20/161803/Taiwan-residents.htm Taiwan residents can ferry to China - The China Post]</ref> but still represents a small part of overall trade.

In early 2002 a China Airlines flight to Hong Kong [[China Airlines Flight 611|crashed]] into the Taiwan strait killing all 225 people on board. The majority of the passengers were intending to transfer at Hong Kong for flights to mainland China. Relatives of the victims advocated for direct cross-strait flights.<ref name="PRCROCTogether2">{{cite news |last=Lam |first=Willy Wo-Lap |date=27 May 2002 |title=Crash brings Taiwan, China together |work=CNN |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/east/05/27/taiwan.talks/index.html |access-date=27 May 2009}}</ref>

In early 2003, the Republic of China (ROC) government permitted its air carriers to ferry [[Chinese New Year]] passengers back and forth across the Strait by way of "indirect charter flights" that touched down briefly in Hong Kong or Macau. The ROC and People's Republic of China (PRC) did not repeat the charter flights during the 2004 Chinese New Year, in part because the two sides could not agree on the terms for meetings to discuss how PRC carriers might also participate.

The two sides agreed to permit cross-strait flights for the Chinese New Year of Rooster in 2005. Unlike the 2003 flights, the 2005 flights did not have to touch down in Hong Kong or Macau, but still must enter its airspace. The first direct commercial flights from China (from [[Guangzhou]]) to Taiwan since 1949 arrived in Taipei on January 29, 2005. Shortly afterwards, a China Airlines carrier landed in Beijing. Airports on both sides saw ceremonial displays on the arrival of the first passengers, with dancing lions and dragons, and officials making speeches. For the three-week holiday period, 48 flights were scheduled.

On 19 July 2006, the first direct chartered all-cargo flight since 1949 operated by China Airlines landed in Shanghai from Taipei.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5193506.stm|title=Taiwan-China cargo flight lands|date=July 19, 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Four other flights were operated on 25 July, 30 July, 8 August, and 10 August 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.people.cn/200607/20/eng20060720_285071.html |title=More direct cargo flights set between Taiwan and Chinese mainland |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 July 2006 |website= |publisher=People's Daily Online |access-date=16 February 2022 |quote=The flights are scheduled to touch down in Shanghai on July 25, July 30, August 8 and August 10, said a source with the Shanghai office of the China Airlines, Taiwan's largest air carrier. }}</ref>

===Further liberalization===
In the lead-up to the [[2008 Republic of China presidential election|2008 presidential elections]] in [[Taiwan]], the [[Kuomintang]] candidate, [[Ma Ying-jeou]], pledged opening the Three Links at an accelerated rate should he be elected president. The ruling DPP has traditionally been reluctant to implement this, citing the PRC's refusal to negotiate unless the Taiwanese counterparty accepts the one-China principle under the 1992 consensus. In June 2007, DPP presidential candidate [[Frank Hsieh]] criticised Ma's plans as a reflection of his lack of experience in handling cross-strait affairs. He also stressed that while the direct links may benefit Taiwan economically, Taiwan's values must not be compromised as a result.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/06/20/2003366036/print|title=Taipei Times - archives}}</ref>

On 29 February 2008, Ma announced plans to commence weekend charter flights by 1 July 2008, which will be expanded to daily charters by the end of the year. Regular scheduled flights may commence by June 2009.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/03/01/145080/Ma-sets.htm Ma sets timetable for cross-strait air travel - The China Post]</ref> The airports of Taoyuan, Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, and Penghu will be open for these cross-strait flights, while the seaports of Keelung, Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Chiayi, and Tainan will be open to direct shipping routes. All restrictions limiting the scope of the "mini three links" will be lifted, including allowing all Taiwanese to use them. Hsieh responded by promising to expand cross-strait charter flights within three months after taking office, including increased flight frequencies and the addition of destinations on the Chinese which may be flown to.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/%20taiwan/2008/03/18/147624/Expansion-of.htm Expansion of direct flights welcomed - The China Post]</ref> Both liberalization plans were greeted by enthusiasm amongst Taiwanese airlines.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/presidential%20election/2008/03/01/145081/Airlines-welcome.htm Airlines welcome Ma's cross-strait flight plan - The China Post]</ref>

Formal agreements to launch regular weekend charter flights were signed on 13 June 2008, allowing for an initial 36 return flights per weekend from Friday to Monday, divided equally to allow 18 return flights amongst up to six China-based and six Taiwan-based airlines respectively. The agreement will involve five airports from China, including those in Beijing, [[Shanghai]], Guangzhou, Xiamen and [[Nanjing]], and eight airports in Taiwan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/13/content_8359704.htm|title=Mainland, Taiwan agree on weekend charter flights, direct cross-Strait flights to be discussed_English_Xinhua|date=June 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620082527/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/13/content_8359704.htm |archive-date=2008-06-20 }}</ref> namely [[Taipei Taoyuan International Airport]], [[Kaohsiung International Airport]], [[Taichung Airport]], [[Taipei Songshan Airport]], [[Makung Airport]], [[Hualien Airport]], [[Kinmen Airport]] and [[Taitung Airport]]. Flights to China cities of [[Chengdu]], [[Chongqing]], [[Hangzhou]], [[Dalian]], [[Guilin]] and [[Shenzhen]] may be added later.<ref name="shanghaidaily1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080613/article_363100.htm|title=Mainland, Taiwan ink deal to boost flights, tourism - Shanghai Daily &#124; 上海日报 - English Window to China New}}</ref> The first flights are scheduled to commence on 4 July 2008, and flight frequencies may be increased on demand, with expectations to increase to 72 each weekend after the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympic Games]].<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/06/13/160749/p2/Taipei-Beijing.htm Taipei, Beijing reach historic pacts - The China Post]</ref> For the first time, the flights will be open to anyone holding valid travel documents, and will no longer be restricted to [[China|Chinese]] and Taiwanese residents only, and no longer required to fly through the Hong Kong FIR. There are also frequency caps on certain sectors: flights from Shanghai to Taiwan are capped at nine return trips each week, while those from China to Taichung must not exceed six return flights each week. There will be no restrictions out of Nanjing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinahospitalitynews.com/2008/06/20/6649-caac-assigns-mainland-airlines-weekend-charter-flights/|title=CAAC Assigns Mainland Airlines' Weekend Charter Flights - China Hospitality News - The Digest of Corporate and Leisure Travel Planning}}</ref>

On 17 June 2008, the [[Civil Aviation Administration of China]] announced that the 18 return flights available to Chinese airlines will be apportioned such that [[Air China]] and [[Hainan Airlines]] will fly to Taiwan from Beijing with four return flights and two return flights respectively; [[China Eastern Airlines]] and [[Shanghai Airlines]] will fly from Shanghai to Taiwan with four return flights and two return flights respectively; [[China Southern Airlines]] fly depart for Taiwan from Guangzhou for four return flights per week, and [[Xiamen Airlines]] will connect Xiamen with Taiwan with two weekly return flights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080617/article_363548.htm|title=Aviation watchdog announces flight schedule to Taiwan - Shanghai Daily &#124; 上海日报 - English Window to China New}}</ref>

Allocation amongst Taiwanese carriers was adjusted from six airlines to five after the suspension of [[Far Eastern Air Transport]]. A rotating allocation system was adopted, whereby in the first week, Mandarin Airlines, TransAsia Airways and UNI Air would fly four return flights each and China Airlines and EVA Airways will fly three flights each, and in the second week, four flights will be operated by TransAsia Airways, UNI Air and China Airlines, while EVA Airways and Mandarin Airlines will fly three flights. The rights will be rotated through in subsequent weeks such that each airline will fly in aggregate the same number of flights every five weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20080618-71499.html|title=Five Taiwanese airlines to operate China flights|date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707175218/http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20080618-71499.html |archive-date=2011-07-07 }}</ref> On the Taiwan-Shanghai route, three airlines will be allocated two roundtrip flights each week, and another airline one weekly flight, to be cycled through the five airlines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avbuyer.com.cn/e/2008/25372.html|title=Five Taiwanese carriers to serve 18 weekend charter flights to China &#124; Airlines &#124; News &#124; en.AvBuyer.com.cn}}</ref> China Airlines and its subsidiary Mandarin Airlines would fly seven round-trips a week, with four to Shanghai, two to Beijing and one to Guangzhou from Kaohsiung, Makung, Taichung and Taipei. Eva Air and subsidiary UNI Air would fly from Taiwan Taoyuan, Songshan and Kaohsiung to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, while TransAsia Airways will operate from Songshan to Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} China Airlines and its Mandarin Airlines subsidiary would offer 29 return flights in the month of July to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Xiamen,<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/%20taiwan/2008/06/21/161966/CAL-to.htm CAL to start charter flights to Shanghai and Beijing - The China Post]</ref> while Eva Air would offer 7 flights per week initially from Taiwan Taoyuan and Songshan airports.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/%20taiwan/2008/06/21/161965/Eva-Air.htm Eva Air eyes cooperation with China peers for direct flights - The China Post]</ref>

Announced routes so far are as follows:
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em auto; font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|+Announced Cross-straits flights<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1701133/|title=Eastern Airlines to Open Weekend Charter Flights to Taiwan}}</ref><ref>[http://chinaaviation.aero/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11033&Itemid=59 CAL and AE Prepare to Launch Direct Weekend Charter Flights to  China - China Airlines, Airports and Aviation News]</ref>
|-
!Airline|| Chinese airport||Taiwanese airport||Flights per week<br />(Week commencing<br />4 July 2008)||Aircraft||Remarks
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Air China]]||[[Beijing Capital International Airport]]||[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]||2 (Fridays and Sundays)|| ||
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Air China]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]||2 (Fridays and Sundays)|| ||
|-
|{{flagicon|ROC}} [[China Airlines]]||[[Beijing Capital International Airport]]||[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]|| || ||
|-
|{{flagicon|ROC}} [[China Airlines]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]|| || ||
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[China Eastern Airlines]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||[[Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport]]||1 (Sundays)||Airbus A321||
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[China Eastern Airlines]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||[[Taipei Songshan Airport]]||2 (Mondays and Fridays)||Airbus A321||
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[China Eastern Airlines]]||[[Nanjing Lukou International Airport]]||[[Taipei Songshan Airport]]||1 (Fridays)||Airbus A321||
|-
|{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Mandarin Airlines]]||[[Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport]]||[[Makung Airport]]|| ||Embraer 190||
|-
|{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Mandarin Airlines]]||[[Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport]]||[[Taichung Airport]]|| ||Embraer 190||
|-
|{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shanghai Airlines]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||[[Taipei Songshan Airport]]||2 (Fridays and Sundays)||Boeing 767-300ER||First flight to commence<ref>[http://www.chinainfoworld.com/shownews.php?id=40420 IEL China Industry Daily News -Shanghai Airlines to Open Mainland China – Taiwan Charter Flights]</ref>
|}

[[File:B-5293 (37052832006).jpg|thumb|China Eastern aircraft in Taiwan in 2017]]
Negotiators are expected to meet again in Taiwan to tackle outstanding issues, including revisiting the issue of introducing cross-strait charter cargo flights within three months,<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/06/15/161050/Ma-seeks.htm Ma seeks more cross-strait talks - The China Post]</ref> the introduction of direct flight routes without the need to fly via Hong Kong airspace<ref name="shanghaidaily1"/> and subsequent addition of destinations and frequencies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_23662.html|title=Taiwan and China Agree to Set Up Business Offices Mutually &#124; Taiwan Industry Updates|website=CENS.com}}</ref>

On 19 June 2008, the ''"Little Three Links"'' between the islands of Kinmen and Matsu and Fujian was greatly liberalised, allowing any Taiwanese to use the ferry services by travelling to either island on their onward journey into Fujian province and beyond. In response, several Taiwanese airlines increased flights to Kinmen, including Mandarin Airlines (increased Taipei-Kinmen flights), Trans Asia Airways (an additional weekly Taipei-Kinmen flight) and UNI Airways Corporation (increase Taipei-Kinmen flights by one or two each week, for a total of 24 weekly flights). Still, the sudden surge in travellers caused flights to become overbooked in the immediate aftermath of liberalization.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national%20news/2008/06/21/161953/Direct-flights.htm Direct flights via Kinmen applauded - The China Post]</ref> There were calls for further relaxation on travel restrictions of Chinese travelling into the islands so as to enable them to also travel onwards to the main island.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/2008/06/20/161803/p2/Taiwan-residents.htm Taiwan residents can ferry to China - The China Post]</ref> Work was also needed to correct the current trade and movement imbalance, where 300,000 Taiwanese travel via the route to reach China, compared to 37,000 Chinese who travel in the opposite direction. On the other hand, the volume of Chinese goods using the route was significantly higher compared to Taiwanese goods. The MAC Minister [[Lai Shin-yuan]] remarked that the [[Straits Exchange Foundation]] will negotiate with [[Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits]] to allow the Chinese to travel to Taiwan via the route, and to lift a US$100,000 trade value ceiling imposed by the Chinese on Taiwanese goods using the route.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_23751.html|title=Cabinet Opens Minor Cross-Strait Transportation Link to All Travelers &#124; Taiwan Industry Updates|website=CENS.com}}</ref>

===Full restoration===
[[File:TNA332toShanghai.ogg|thumb|Audio of Taipei Control requesting TransAsia flight 332 to change frequency to Shanghai Control]] 
Full restoration of the Three Links officially commenced on 15 December 2008, with inaugural direct shipping, direct flights, and direct mail.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2008/12/15/187643/Direct%2Dacross%2Dstrait.htm China Post - Direct across-strait links in place today], Taipei 15 December 2008</ref>

On August 31, 2009, the number of flights between China and Taiwan increased to 270. They no longer had to bypass Hong Kong airspace and also were no longer all operating as chartered flights; i.e., a large number of regular scheduled flights began to cross the Taiwan Strait out of 25 Chinese airports.<ref name=xcd>{{cite news|title=Mainland, Taiwan increase regular direct flights|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-08/31/content_8636862.htm|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=Xinhua via China Daily|date=31 August 2009}}</ref>