His best guess was that they were between islands, with the Chinese mainland a few miles to the north.
Like the rest of Taiwan, they have been in telephone contact with the mainland for years.
How long can it continue to refuse all contact with the mainland?
Within a day or two we should have contact with the mainland.
The road connection with the mainland, on the other hand, used to be very choked.
But after the opening of direct trade links with the mainland, this week has been different.
The Government is still debating just how quickly it should free up contact with the mainland.
At first I thought the reason was to cut off my connection with the mainland.
In 1978, the community received satellite communications with the mainland.
Such moves, in turn, could increase chances of a conflict with the mainland.