Taiwan to Negotiate Postal Links with China

Officials from Taiwan have said they will choose a delegation of business representatives to negotiate direct shipping, postal and travel links with China, signalling a possible breakthrough in ending a 53-year ban on such activity. Beijing has also signalled a willingness to allow direct links to be negotiated on a business, rather than a political level. A week ago, Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan’s president, said he would allow private groups to hold talks with mainland China on behalf of his government. Since then, business leaders in Taiwan have stepped up calls for direct shipping links.