| 01.16.2005 The Straits Times China, Taiwan 'yes' to first direct flights By Goh Sui Noi, China Correspondent BEIJING - CHINA and Taiwan yesterday reached a landmark agreement on non-stop charter flights during the coming Chinese New Year holidays, a move that could lead to an easing of cross-strait tensions. The deal opens the way for Chinese airlines to land in Taipei for the first time in half a century. In all, 48 flights will be allowed, starting from Jan 29 and ending on Feb 20. The planes will take off from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, and Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. Each side will select six airlines for the routes. Aviation officials meeting in Macau took less than 90 minutes to strike the deal in what Mr Pu Zhaozhou, Beijing's representative, described as a 'cordial atmosphere'. Mr Michael Lo, his Taipei counterpart, told the joint news conference that the flights will be for China-based Taiwan businessmen and their families to return home for the Chinese New Year holidays, which begin on Feb 9. Yesterday's deal was unprecedented in allowing for two-way, non-stop flights. There are now no direct air links between the bitter political rivals. Without the agreement, air travellers must fly via Hong Kong or Macau, adding four hours to an otherwise hour-long flight. In a deal two years ago, special Chinese New Year charter flights had to make a stop in Hong Kong or Macau. They were also one-way, in that the planes from Taiwan flew empty to pick up passengers from Shanghai, and Chinese airlines could not take part. This time round, while the flights will be non-stop, they will still have to go through Hong Kong or Macau airspace. Talks for charter flights last year failed to get off the ground, partly because Taiwan refused to allow Chinese airlines to fly to the island. Chinese analysts attributed this year's breakthrough to stronger pressure from Taiwanese businessmen on their government. About one million Taiwanese live and work in China. Trade and investment across the Taiwan Strait have grown despite the friction in ties. Taiwan businesses have pumped some US$100 billion (S$163 billion) into China and the business lobby has long clamoured for direct flights. Taipei was also under pressure from the United States to lower cross-strait tensions stoked up during its legislative polls last month. The ruling party had played up pro-independence sentiments, angering China, which sees any attempt at a split by the island as a trigger for war. Professor Jia Qingguo of Beijing University said of the Taiwanese openness to a deal yesterday: 'Politically, they need to make a gesture to express their willingness to ease tension with the mainland.' In Taipei, Mr Chiu Tai-san, vice-chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's China policy-making body, hailed the agreement as a prelude to possible direct air and shipping links. Analysts yesterday saw the deal as contributing to a less fraught atmosphere, but they also cautioned against high expectations. Said cross-strait analyst Zhang Tongxin from China's Renmin University: 'The underlying tension remains because the Taiwan authorities have not given up on their pro-independence stand.' -- Additional reporting by Lawrence Chung in Taipei |
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