The Langqi passenger terminal in Fuzhou of east China's Fujian Province officially commenced a new departure tax refund initiative for travelers heading on the "mini three links" route on Tuesday, with streamlined measures boosting the efficiency of tax refunds and speeding up customs clearance procedures.
The "mini three links" refers to direct trade, postal and transport services launched in 2001 between Fujian Province and the Taiwan-administered Kinmen and Matsu islands. It serves as a vital, convenient cross-strait passage for personnel exchanges and economic and trade interactions between the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region.
At the heart of the upgraded service is an optimized procedure dubbed the "one document, one bag, one code" process, a simple and streamlined model designed to shorten clearance time for outbound passengers.
Under this framework, travelers who make purchases at designated pilot tax refund stores can have their qualified goods consolidated into a single sealed bag, with all corresponding tax refund information integrated into a unique QR code printed on the tax refund application form.
When departing via the Langqi passenger terminal, on-site customs officers only need to scan the QR code to retrieve and verify the details relating to the applicant's tax refund application. Travelers can then get quick customs clearance once the information is confirmed to be accurate, with no requirement to open their sealed shopping bags for repeated inspections.
Departure tax refund services launched at "mini three links" port in Fuzhou
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and that it was "sealed up tight" until such time as Iran was able to make a deal, while Iran had drawn up a target list for retaliation against the United States and its allies.
Trump made the remarks in a social media post, adding that "no ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy."
He also said on Thursday that he has ordered the U.S. Navy "to shoot and kill" any boat putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
There is to be "no hesitation" for U.S. forces to attack Iran's "small boats" putting mines, and the U.S. minesweepers are clearing the Strait of Hormuz right now, Trump said on his Truth Social.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of diplomatic setbacks and a lack of trust in negotiations, Iran has drawn up a target list, based on the principles of reciprocal response and offensive deterrence, to address potential military actions by the United States and its allies.
Iran has prepared different responses for different scenarios: striking enemy power plants if its own are hit; targeting U.S. allies' energy facilities if its oil and gas sector is attacked, with the aim of cutting global oil output by 25 million barrels a day for one year; hitting AI and IT centers if its officials are assassinated; and launching massive missile and drone strikes against enemy aircraft carriers and helicopters if its territory is violated.
Iran also threatened to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and completely seal the Strait of Hormuz through large-scale mining if a U.S. naval blockade continues or escalates.
Should the U.S. launch a ground invasion using regional bases, Iran said it would coordinate with resistance front forces and local armed groups to capture U.S. soldiers. Surprise attacks on U.S. interests outside the region are also possible.
Trump claims full control of Strait of Hormuz as Iran draws up retaliation target list
