China-Taiwan Pact Deals With Hijackings

A breakthrough agreement between longtime enemies on mainland China and Taiwan includes important steps meant to stop a spate of hijackings from China.

It was the first significant agreement since formal contact between the two rival governments began in the spring of 1993. The latest talks ended Sunday, and the highest-ranking Chinese envoy to visit Taiwan since 1949, Tang Shubei, flew back to Beijing on Monday.

The two sides reached consensus on how to deal with hijackers, as well as illegal mainland workers in Taiwan and fishing disputes in the Taiwan Straits, a joint news release said. A formal agreement will be signed after minor differences are resolved, it said.