Taiwan announced on Thursday an expansion of shipping links to China following historic talks between the two rivals aimed at easing tension and boosting economic ties. The change will enable all Taiwanese with valid transport documents to travel by boat from the Kinmen and Matsu islets to Xiamen and Quanzhou in China's south-east Fujian province, officials said.
"The cabinet has approved relaxing the restrictions ... effective today (Thursday)," said Lai Shin-yuan, the chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council, the island's top China policy-making body.
The relaxation would provide another convenient means of transport to the mainland, which even foreigners could use if China allowed them entry, she said. Taiwan and China signed historic agreements in Beijing earlier this month to open direct weekend charter passenger flights between major cities and boost tourism.
Trade and travel links across the Taiwan Strait have been restricted since the two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Under Taipei's ban on all direct links, passengers and goods have to transit via third ports, mainly Hong Kong.