Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, answered reporters' questions concerning cross-Straits relations at the regular press conference held on October 31.

Taiwan Airlines Can Apply for Flying through Sanya Flying Responsibility Zone

In answering reporters' question concerning whether Taiwan air transport enterprises can fly through the Chinese mainland's navigation zone, Zhang said under the coordination of the international civil aviation organization, traffic service will be provided by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) as of November 1, 2001 in the Sanya Flying Responsibility Zone on the South China Sea. Taiwan region's airlines with the intention to fly through the said zone may file an application to the CAAC. So far, several Taiwan airlines have reportedly filed applications to the CAAC for flying through the Sanya zone, the department concerned has granted approval to the applications as a special case. The CAAC will provide fine-quality, high-efficiency air traffic services for all civil aircraft including those from the Taiwan region's airlines that fly over China's flying information zone and flying responsibility zone.

Qualified Taiwan Students Studying in Chinese Mainland May Be Employed Locally After Graduation

In answering a reporter's question concerning the study and employment of Taiwan students on the Chinese mainland, Zhang said: We have always shown great concern for and paid attention to Taiwan students coming to the mainland for studies in universities or colleges, and we have provided them with conveniences for entry, enrollment and daily lives. So far, nearly 4,000 Taiwan students have been enrolled into more than 140 institutions of higher learning in the Chinese mainland. During the period of their studies here, Taiwan students with valid certificates can enjoy same treatment as can mainland students in the aspects of traffic and accommodation. Besides, under relevant regulations, for those Taiwan students, after graduation from institutions of higher education on the mainland, the related department will allow them to get jobs in the mainland so long as they possess pertinent conditions for employment in the mainland and comply with the needs of the employer. The Chinese Health Ministry and four other departments have jointly issued a document recently, which allows Taiwan residents, on the premise of meeting relevant requirements, to take national doctors' qualification examination.

Zhang said, to relieve Taiwan businessmen investing in the mainland of their worries behind and solve the problem concerning education of their children, competent educational department had the first school for children of Taiwan businessmen established last year in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. This year, another such school has also been set up in Jiangsu's Kunshan with approval granted by the said competent department. With a view to providing conveniences for Taiwan compatriots to travel along the two sides of the Straits and handle relevant affairs, the department concerned has opened four ports - Xiamen, Haikou, Fuzhou and Sanya - for qualified Taiwan compatriots to perform formalities for documents on settlement.

Mainland Willing to Boost Accomplishment of Things Facilitating Cross-Straits Development

A reporter queried: Taiwan has recently further expanded the scope of "three mini-links"-direct trade, transport and postal links, regarding this, is the mainland willing to provide help and coordination? Zhang said: We have noticed Taiwan media's recent reports, the department concerned of Taiwan is prepared to allow Taiwan islanders to come to the mainland via Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu islands. It is our opinion that so long as things conforming to the fundamental interests of compatriots across the Straits and to the principle of one China, direct, two-way links and mutual benefit, helping promote the development of cross-Straits economic and trade relations and facilitating realization of direct "three links" between the two sides of the Straits, we are willing to give them a big boost and are glad to see their accomplishment. Although contacts between Fujian's coasts and Jinmen and Mazu areas in Taiwan are not direct "three links" in their real sense, and there is a far cry from Taiwan public's demand, considering Taiwan public's actual needs, however, we are still willing to provide them with concrete help.

Taiwan Leader's Rejection of One-China Principle Will Create New Tension and Conflicts in Cross-Straits Relations

A reporter said recently the leader of the Taiwan authorities declared that he "cannot accept the one-China principle and the "1992 consensus". What's your comment on this? In fact and de jure of the one-China principle are irrefutable, it cannot be obscured and evaded. The basic content of the "92 consensus" is that "both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the one-China principle" expressed respectively by words of the mouth by the two sides of the Straits, this is an indisputable fact. The 10-odd consultations and dialogs between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) over the 1992-99 period were conducted on the basis of this consensus. Restoring cross-Straits dialogs and negotiation on the basis of the "92 consensus" by upholding the one-China principle conforms to the desire of Taiwan compatriots for stabilizing and developing cross-Straits relations. The fact that the leader of the Taiwan authorities denies the "92 Consensus" and refuses to accept the one-China principle not only cannot break the deadlock in cross-Straits relations, but also will create new tension and conflicts in cross-Straits relations and thus harm the interests of the broad masses of the compatriots in Taiwan.

Mainland's Preferential Policy Toward Taiwan Businessmen Will Remain Unchanged After the Two sides Join the WTO

While answering questions concerning the two sides' entry into WTO, Zhang noted that following the two sides' entry into the WTO, an opportunity will be provided for cross-Straits economic and trade development, particularly for direct "three links" between the two sides of the Straits. He said, however, the question concerning cross-Straits "three links" and that about cross-Straits economic and trade development should both be discussed within the framework of one China, i.e., discussed among the Chinese themselves, there is no need for discussion to be conducted on international occasion. With regard to the lawful rights and interests of Taiwan businesses on the mainland, relevant State Council regulations about this have long been available, including protection of the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan businessmen involved in the large-scale development of the western region. Regarding this, our policy is consistent. The earlier published preferential policy of "equal priority and appropriate relaxation" toward Taiwan businesspeople still remains unchanged. Premier Zhu Rongji once said that on the question of benefit concession, we can give more concession, because we are all Chinese.

Common Fight against International Terrorism Conforms to the Fundamental Interests of Compatriots of the Two Sides

When asked about how the two sides will join hands to combat terrorism, Zhang said in reply, resolute attack against international terrorism is the consistent proposition of the Chinese government, this stand is clear-cut, particularly after the occurrence of the incident of the "September 11" terrorist attack on the United States, Chinese State leaders and foreign ministry spokespersons have time and again expressed this stand on many occasions. Common fight by the two sides of the Straits against terrorism conforms to the interests of compatriots across the Straits, at the same time, it is also the bounden duty of both sides. Earlier, both sides had agreement on launching common fight against crimes, which is identical with the current crackdown on international terrorism.

Responsibility for the Unequal Treatment of Resident Correspondents on Both Sides Lies Entirely on Related Taiwan Departments

In answering the question whether Taiwan correspondents can be stationed permanently in the mainland, Zhang said in terms of the present situation, we have not heard of this and we do not have such a plan. He said cross-Straits information exchange should be actuated jointly by cross-Straits news circle and relevant departments. The mainland has, since the New Year Day of 1996, allowed Taiwan correspondents to come to the mainland for news covering and has thus far permitted nine media to engage in news covering in Beijing, Shanghai and Fujian of the mainland on a long-term, rotating basis, while it was only until February this year that the Taiwan authorities formally allowed correspondents of four mainland media to go to Taiwan for news covering, furthermore, only two correspondents are allowed to be sent by each of the four media each time for a month's news covering. Facts show that the two sides are unequal in terms of the duration of stay and the number of media, we have raised this issue to the related Taiwan department, but so far there is no change in this situation. In our opinion, information exchanges should be virtuous and interacting, we hope the Taiwan authorities will abolish this set of unreasonable stipulations as soon as possible, so as to bring about an early realization of virtuous and interacting results in cross-Straits news exchanges.

(People's Daily November 2, 2001)