Direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are an
economic, not a political matter, said a China Civil Aviation
Association spokesman Monday.
Spokesman Pu Zhaozhou made the remarks in response to the Taiwan
authorities' proposal on Wednesday to start regular indirect cargo
flights to and from the mainland later this month.
Pu said the flights should be direct.
However, Taiwan authorities have insisted that chartered cargo
flights land in Hong Kong or Macao before they reach the
mainland.
Tsai Ing-wen, head of Taiwan's "Mainland Affairs Council," said
indirect cargo flights between Taiwan and Shanghai could begin on
September 25. Only Taiwanese airlines would be allowed to operate
the flights.
Pu urged Taiwanese authorities to allow mainland airlines to
operate cargo services to Taiwan island, on an equal footing with
Taiwanese airlines.
"Airliners from both the mainland and Taiwan should participate
in direct flights equally. The mainland calls for two-way direct
cargo flights across the Taiwan Straits to save time and expense,"
he said.
Pu said the China Civil Aviation Association welcomes
non-governmental aviation organizations from Taiwan to the mainland
for negotiations on direct flights across the Straits.
"It's reasonable for the Chinese airlines to take part in cargo
flights across the Taiwan Straits in accordance with aviation
practice and the common business principle of fairness," he
said.
Transportation links across the Straits were severed after the
civil war in 1949. Both sides have said they want to restore the
links but the Taiwan authorities have set political preconditions
on direct flights.
(China Daily September 16, 2003)