Most Taiwanese Favor Direct Transport Links With Mainland: Poll
 
The results of a poll conducted in Taiwan show that 61 percent of the respondents are in favor of direct transport links with the Chinese mainland, according to Saturday's China Times.

A survey conducted jointly by the newspaper and Taiwan's cable television channel CTI Friday checked 810 effective samples, 61 percent of which are in favor of allowing direct air and shipping links to and from the Chinese mainland instead of the existing situation that requires passage via a third place.

Thirteen percent said they are not in support of direct links, while the rest of the respondents either said they don't know or declined to answer, it reported.

Moreover, 52 percent of those polled said that direct trade and transport links will provide a much-needed shot in the arm to Taiwan's slumping economy.

(Xinhua New Agency October 19, 2002)