A majority of local people support the opening of direct transport links across the Taiwan Strait under the premise that Taiwan's security will not be undermined, according to the results of an online poll released Tuesday. Meanwhile, 83.47 percent said they thought that the opening of direct transport links would be conducive to cross-strait consultations, lowering of hostility and promotion of bilateral exchanges. A Taiwan fishing boat on Tuesday brought back three Philippine fishermen they rescued in the Bashi Channel off southern Taiwan. The first group of Chinese-Taipei athletes to the 2001 East Asian Games left for Osaka Tuesday to attend the Games which start May 19. They included athletes competing in soft tennis, handball, weightlifting and bowling.
Soft tennis uses a softer, rubber ball but is otherwise similar to regular tennis.
The men's basketball team, which captured a gold in the previous Games four years ago, was to leave for Osaka from Hong Kong Tuesday afternoon. Back to the table of content .