South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

Authorities across southern China have intensified emergency measures and expanded evacuations as Typhoon Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, approaches landfall.

As the typhoon moved closer, Guangdong Province raised its emergency response for strong winds to Level II on Saturday, relocating more than 300 vessels to safe waters.

The Guangxi Maritime Safety Administration also upgraded its typhoon emergency response to Level II on Saturday. Maritime authorities along the coast were instructed to strengthen duty shifts and on-site typhoon prevention efforts, verify that personnel had been evacuated ashore, and organize local vessels to leave port and take shelter.

Hainan has issued a Level III emergency response for strong winds and flooding.

Haikou, the provincial capital, began a gradual, citywide suspension of classes, work, transportation, flights, park services, and business operations on Saturday afternoon, with the measures remaining in effect through Sunday.

All inbound and outbound flights at Haikou Meilan International Airport were cancelled starting at 23:00 on Saturday.

RoPax ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait were suspended from 16:00 Saturday.

Wenchang City in Hainan Province, one of the locations along the typhoon's projected landfall path, has established 363 temporary shelters for construction workers and nearby residents. Each shelter has been stocked with emergency supplies and equipped with generators to ensure a stable temporary power supply for those taking refuge.

The typhoon, observed at 18 degrees north latitude and 117.7 degrees east longitude at 5:00 on Saturday, is moving northwestward at a speed of 25-30 km per hour, according to China's National Meteorological Center (NMC).

It is anticipated to make landfall along coastal areas ranging from Dianbai in Guangdong Province to Wanning in Hainan Province, both located in south China, around noon on Sunday, the NMC said.

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

South China provinces brace as Typhoon Matmo approaches landfall

Song Tao, Central Government's Taiwan affairs official, met with Chang Jung-kung, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, and his delegation in Shanghai on Friday.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the meeting that based on the common political foundation of upholding the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan separatist forces", the the Central Government is ready to work with the KMT to oppose secessionist activities and crush any attempts by Japan or other external forces to interfere in affairs related to Taiwan.

He called for efforts to strengthen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, safeguard the common home and fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, advance peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait, and strive for national reunification and rejuvenation.

Chang said people on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese, sharing the same bloodline, culture and history, and cross-Strait affairs should be decided by people on both sides.

"History has proven that as long as we adhere to the '1992 Consensus' and oppose 'Taiwan separatist forces', cross-Strait relations can indeed develop peacefully. Otherwise, they cannot. Every one of us in Taiwan is a proud and dignified Chinese. The main actors in cross-Strait relations are the people on both sides. And we will more firmly uphold the original political foundation to continue promoting peace and exchanges across the Strait," said Chang.

Central government's Taiwan affairs official meets KMT vice chairman