CAL's plane selection upsets EU

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday commented on the unresolved purchase, saying the carrier should reconsider its decision in the commercial deal if the countries initially favored by the carrier are not friendly to Taiwan diplomatically.

Lu's remarks backed up statements made on Wednesday by Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟), secretary-general to the president.

Chen said China Airlines should consider purchasing aircraft from Boeing because of the US' firm support of Taiwan, while previous dealings with the French government have been unpleasant.

Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) denied a media report which said France has vowed to take the matter to the WTO.

But the National Science Council yesterday confirmed that France had threatened to call off its satellite cooperation program with Taiwan if China Airlines chose to drop Airbus jets for Boeing planes.