Applications from Taiwanese airlines for proposed cross-Straits
indirect charter flights during the Spring Festival holiday may not
be accepted until both sides have worked out the details of the
arrangement, it was revealed yesterday.
"It seems too early for us to do so (take the applications) because
related talks on technical matters involved in the program have yet
to start and we are still waiting for an appropriate and positive
response from the Taiwan side to our call for the negotiations," a
senior official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation
of China (CAAC) said.
The official, who did not want to be named, said a smooth
implementation of the plan depends on whether Taiwanese authorities
have enough sincerity and immediately take concrete action to
facilitate the arrangement.
"If they are adequately sincere and authorize private organizations
or industrial associations to start the talks as soon as possible,
we are confident all problems can be solved so the plan can be put
into place in a timely way," he said.
But the official declined to predict whether the indirect charter
arrangement will risk being delayed if Taipei fails to take active
steps to cooperate immediately.
Taipei gave final approval on Wednesday for indirect charter
flights between Shanghai and Taipei via Hong Kong or Macao around
the upcoming February 1 Chinese Lunar New Year.
Only Taiwanese airlines can apply to operate the flights to pick up
Taiwanese businessmen and their families living on the mainland
between January 26 and February 10, according to regulations
announced by the island's "mainland affairs council."
Carriers are required to land either at Pudong or Hongqiao airports
in Shanghai and at Chiang Kai-shek or Hsiaokang airports in
Taiwan.
If
fulfilled, Taiwanese planes will land on mainland soil for the
first time in five decades since Taipei banned trade, transport and
postal services -- dubbed the three links -- across the
Straits.
At
least 30,000 Taiwanese businessmen are expected to book charter
flights from Shanghai during the 10-day traditional Chinese holiday
for family reunions, according to John Chang from the opposition
Kuomintang party in Taiwan.
Chang reportedly said he had approached six Taiwanese airlines to
provide 120 charter flights between Taipei and Shanghai.
Last month, the Taiwan authorities turned the potentially
significant proposal into a largely symbolic move by shooting down
a call from 140 local "lawmakers," led by Chang, to permit direct
cross-Straits charter flights, citing security concerns.
Although the mainland has held out for direct charter flights with
no stopovers and demanded mainland airlines also participate in the
charters, it has finally given the nod to Taipei's proposal for the
indirect charter flights.
"Despite our dissatisfaction (with the Taipei model), we are
willing to offer active cooperation to practically push for the
implementation of the plan," said Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a routine press
conference on Wednesday.
The CAAC official, however, said that going along with Taipei's
proposal does not mean Beijing will accept whatever unilateral
decisions or arrangements the Taiwan authorities make.
"Neither does it mean talks are not needed to ensure the proposed
charter flights can be carried out smoothly and safely," he
said.
The official said the mainland's non-governmental civil aviation
association is well prepared for negotiations with its Taiwanese
counterpart on technical problems that may arise from the
charters.
(China Daily December 6, 2002)