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The term 'cluster' is defined as a regional concentration of related economic activities and the concept has been embraced by many scientists and regional policy makers. However, little research has been done for fast-growing port clusters in Asia. The geographical focus of this study is the ports across the Taiwan Strait which is a seldom investigated area in cluster research. This study aims to develop an institutional framework to analyse the interactions and coordination among key port cluster actors with respect to the internal and external environment, and further identify the role policy plays in being a main driver for cluster evolution. We employ a case study approach in the research. Ports along the Taiwan Strait have access to abundant resources and possess strategic locations, as well as broad market bases including Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Taiwan ports have advanced infrastructure and information technology management systems, while Fujian ports are rich in resources and have access to the vast mainland hinterland. They have complementary advantages and the formation of a port cluster across Taiwan Strait could improve the market competitiveness of both. Thus, the efficient governance and integration of such a port cluster has practical significance. This paper provides specific suggestions to the policy makers across the Taiwan Strait with regards to a unified path of development for the port and logistics industry for Fujian Province of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for daily monitoring of yttrium and rare earth elements (YREEs) in seawater using a cheap flow injection system online coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry is reported. Toyopearl AF Chelate 650M® resin permits separation and concentration of YREEs using a simple external calibration. A running cycle consumed 6 mL sample and took 5.3 min, providing a throughput of 11 samples per hour. Linear ranges were up to 200 ng kg−1 except Tm (100 ng kg−1). The precision of the method was <6% (RSDs, n = 5), and recoveries ranged from 93% to 106%. Limits of detection (LODs) were in the range 0.002 ng kg−1 (Tm) to 0.078 ng kg−1 (Ce). Good agreement between YREEs concentrations in CASS-4 and SLEW-3 obtained in this work and results from other studies was observed. The proposed method was applied to the determination of YREEs in seawater from the Jiulong River Estuary and the Taiwan Strait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Via quantitative analysis and interviews, this article examines the credibility and sustainability of Beijing’s patronage policy towards Taiwanese business. The new finding is that the rise of economic nationalism and local protectionism in China is undermining and constraining Beijing’s patronage policy. Consequently, China’s rising economy does not deepen cross-Strait integration but rather crowds out Taiwanese business. Moreover, considering the growing influence of Chinese domestic constraints, this article attempts to provide a bilateral two-level game to grasp the new dynamics on cross-Strait relations under the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Beijing’s new strategies toward Taiwan are informed by neo-functionalism derived from European experiences, assuming that economic integration will eventually lead to political accommodation and integration. Despite the surprising Sunflower Movement and the fiasco of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in the 2014 local elections, Beijing will try its best to maintain the momentum of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Facing a brand new Taiwan that seems an oddity to the mainland, however, Beijing has adapted to ‘the new normal’ with a slower pace, refocusing on the economic and cultural issues. Whether or to what degree Beijing will change its asymmetric engagements with the two main parties on the island, however, is contingent upon whether the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) can reach a balance of power domestically and whether their policies toward the mainland converge rather than diverge. At any rate, Beijing is likely to pay more attention to ordinary people’s feelings about cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and consider quality of cross-Strait exchange as more important than quantity of activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports that humpback dolphins are found on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Dolphines found in Xiamen, China, and Kinmen, Taiwan, which are situated in adjoining waters within Xiamen Bay, belong to the same population. It provides evidence to prove that they belong to the same population.