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    China Business
     Dec 9, 2005
Taiwan welcomes direct air links talks

WASHINGTON - A high-ranking Taiwan official said December 5 that the opening of direct air transport links across the Taiwan Strait is government policy, and that Taiwan welcomes talks without preconditions with China in this regard.

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) chairman Joseph Wu made the remarks during a meeting with Taiwanese reporters. Wu claimed



it is wrong to think that his council has been impeding the implementation of direct transport links across the Taiwan Strait.

A Cabinet evaluation report unveiled Aug. 15, 2003 clearly explained the government's positive stance regarding the opening of direct transport links between the two sides of Taiwan Strait, he said.

To reach the goal, the government has been promoting cross-strait charter flights for passengers during the Lunar New Year holiday as a prelude to the full opening of regular direct transport links, according to Wu.

However, China has no intention of negotiating with Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party administration in this regard, so that only charter flights between the two sides can be discussed, Wu noted.

Wu went on that the opening of cross-strait passenger charter flights for the 2005 Lunar New Year has seen efforts from the government to secure the flights, and negotiations for similar charter flight services for the 2006 holiday have also been completed.

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been negotiating alternative measures, such as talks on cross-strait cargo and passenger charter flights, before the full opening of the direct transport links, Wu said, expressing hope that the talks will soon bear fruit.

"If China is willing to negotiate with us on the issue of direct transport ties without any preconditions, we would absolutely welcome it," Wu added.

(Asia Pulse/CNA)

 

 
 



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