The rapprochement continues. Taiwan has begun a trial of limited convertibility of New Taiwan Dollars into Renminbi. And people like it, not least because it helps them avoid the black market.

Taiwan-China currency exchange services that began Monday on Kinmen and Matsu islands on a trial basis have gained warm public response and the government will further study the issue to better service the people, Taiwan Premier Frank Hsieh said Wednesday...The government will move ahead with the service and gauge the possibility of establishing a currency settlement system between the new Taiwan dollar and the renminbi, the premier said...

Taiwan passengers highly praised the service, saying that the measure helps them save a lot of trouble in exchanging renminbi and provides them with a legal channel to get rid of fake Chinese currency despite the fact that the exchange rate is a little higher on Kinmen and Matsu than on Chinese black markets. In the past, Taiwan visitors had to approach local tourist agencies on Kinmen and Matsu or black markets in China to exchange new Taiwan dollars to renminbi -- a practice that made many of them suffer monetary losses when taking in fake notes.