Beijing has joined the crackdown on unlicensed taxis following strikes by licensed drivers over the issue in other parts of the country.

The campaign started on Wednesday and will end on December 31. About 10 drivers of unlicensed cabs were found operating around the Beijing West Railway Station during the first day of the campaign. They faced fines between 10,000 yuan (US$1,464) and 20,000 yuan, the Beijing News reported on Thursday.

The Beijing transportation committee has convened meetings on improving administration of the taxi industry.

In Shenyang, capital of the northeast China's Liaoning Province, 43 unlicensed cabs have been seized by traffic authorities since a similar campaign was launched on November 8.

During a two-day taxi strike in China's fourth-largest city, Chongqing, licensed drivers complained about competition from unlicensed cabs, among other grievances.

Unlicensed cabs also sparked cabbies' strikes in the southern city of Sanya and the northwestern county of Yongdeng earlier this week.

There are about 1,050 licensed cabs in Sanya, a major tourist city, which face competition from twice as many unlicensed cabs.

Authorities in Chongqing, Sanya and Yongdeng have pledged to crack down on unlicensed cabs.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)