FUJIAN, China's frontline province with Taiwan, is hoping to penetrate Taipei's ''white glove'' mainland policy by opening her harbour resources to Taiwan businesses. The invitation by the newly-elected Fujian Governor Chen Mingyi is a tempting offer because Taiwan, which has achieved impressive economic growth over the past decade, has been under great pressure to expand its already saturated harbours. Taiwan's two largest ports, Keelung and Kaohsiung, have been so heavily congested in recent years that seagoing vessels often face lengthy delays. According to Mr Chen, Taiwan's petrochemical and shipping business could reap impressive economic benefits if they made use of port facilities on Fujian's 3,300-kilometre coastline. For example, Mr Chen said Fujian was ready to open the Meizhou Bay and a military port at Sandouao to Taiwan. They are ideal for the construction of deep-water port facilities. Mr Chen believed these two ports not only provided a solution to the congestion problems at Taiwan's Keelung and Kaohsiung, they could also serve as entrepot to Taiwan. Furthermore, economic co-operation between Fujian and Taiwan could also cover joint development of petroleum resources in the Taiwan Strait, meteorological studies and agriculture, Mr Chen said. According to another Fujian official, Communist Party Secretary Jia Qinglin, Beijing has already earmarked Zhangzhou in southern Fujian as a ''priority development zone'' and promised to allocate 20 million yuan (HK$17.76 million) every year for its development. The last attraction was considered a direct response by Beijing to an earlier suggestion by Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui that Taiwan farmers might consider joining hands with their mainland counterparts. Plagued by rising land cost and serious environmental pollution, Taiwan farmers have been pressuring the Government for assistance to maintain their market competitiveness. In addition, Mr Jia who is also the chairman of the province's legislature, said Xiamen which was opposite to Taiwan's Quemoy island would soon introduce new laws to guarantee the protection of Taiwanese investors' interest there. Fujian's eagerness to lure Taiwan business was also evident from the fact the Government was ready to invest billions of yuan in energy projects including a US$4 billion (HK$30.88 billion) nuclear plant in a small town called Shanqian. Although the Kuomintang Government in Taiwan still officially maintained its ''one China'' policy, it has steadfastly resisted pressure from her business community to open direct communication and transport link with the mainland. This ''white glove'' policy by Taipei was a major obstacle to large Taiwan businesses investing in China.
