Beijing, Taipei approve direct flights

The mainland and Taiwan yesterday simultaneously announced an increase in the number of direct charter flights across the Taiwan Strait within weeks, opening the way to an early normalisation of such services despite the cross-strait stalemate.

The announcement on holiday charter flights was made by the Taipei Airlines Association and the Cross-Strait Aviation Transport Exchange Council - two groups entrusted by Taipei and Beijing to conduct the negotiations.

The Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) under the mainland's State Council said resolving the problem of direct transport links across the Taiwan Strait was a 'pressing issue' and that Beijing was committed to pushing for their early realisation.

'We need to point out that what is announced today is not enough,' a TAO spokesman said. 'We hope that the civic body in Taiwan can continue the negotiations with our side [to realise regular direct air transport links].'

In Taiwan, Joseph Wu Jau-shieh, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said: 'After communicating with each other, the departments concerned with the two sides have agreed first to launch four types of charter services, based on the consensus reached.'

These services include holiday passenger, cargo, medical and humanitarian charters, he said.

He said mainland-based Taiwanese businessmen whose investments had been approved by the island's government would be allowed to send production and related equipment, components and spare parts by cargo charter to and from the mainland.