Taipei's mayor believes the island's president may push to end the ban on the 'three links' with the mainland as early as next year to secure his legacy before leaving office in 2008.
Ma Ying-jeou said the Democratic Progressive Party government would do so if it did not want to leave 'everything blank' in the remainder of President Chen Shui-bian's term.
Mr Ma, who also heads the main opposition Kuomintang, said foreign firms looking to invest in Taiwan were concerned about the direct links, especially transport links, since they also hoped to use Taiwan as a springboard to the mainland.
He said the pan-blue opposition of the KMT and People First Party had heeded calls from local and foreign traders, and asked the government to open the links, but the administration had continued to ignore the appeals.
Next year the opposition camp will strive to push for legislation to be passed to open the 'three links' with the mainland.
If the government continues to ignore the calls, the opposition will apply pressure on the administration.
