Opposition lawmakers urged the government to accelerate the opening direct of links as the first charter flight between Taiwan and China in 54 years returned to Taipei yesterday.
DPP and TSU lawmakers, however, did not see the charter flights as the start of direct links opening, although some DPP lawmakers suggested that the government move in this direction.
"The meaning of these charter flights is significant. They may give the government an example of how to proceed with direct links," said KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (
"The government should thoroughly review its direct-links policy. Before the government opens direct links, it should continue approving domestic airlines' applications to operate charter flights between Taiwan and China," Lee said.
According to Lee, the government should allow charter flights on other significant holidays and permit carriers to fly to major centers in China.
Lee added that the KMT caucus will propose adding a direct links section to the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
PFP Legislator Chung Shao-ho (
"The government should put aside its political considerations," Chung said.
Another PFP lawmaker, Chiu Yi (
"The realization of the charter flights allows the possibility of direct links," Chiu added.
However, DPP legislative whip Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said the charter flights are simply a "temporary measure."
"The charter flights are not the government's first step toward direct links," Chen said.
DPP Legislator Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) said the flights do not have much significance, but added that direct links would help the economy in the long term.
"Direct links is the way Taiwan will have to go," Lee said.
DPP Legislator Chang Ching-fang (張清芳) also urged the government to start talks with China.
"Many Taiwanese businessmen in China believe direct links are impossible. Some of them have decided not to return to Taiwan for the Lunar New Year," Chang said.
TSU Legislator Huang Chung-yung (
"Less than 40 percent of the seats offered on the charter flights have been filled. TSU lawmakers will refuse to back a direct links act if it does not give Taiwan and China equal status," Huang said.
Meanwhile, the six airlines which obtained permission to operate the charter flights see the flights as an opportunity to gain access to the Chinese market.
TransAsia Airways chairman Tony Fan (
EVA Airways president Steve Lin (林寶水), Mandarin Airlines president Mike Lo (樂大信) and UniAir president Cheng Kuang-yuan (鄭光遠) also planned to go on their companies' first charters to China.
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency as well as long-term residency in Taiwan has decreased, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday, adding that the reduction of Chinese spouses staying or living in Taiwan is only one facet reflecting the general decrease in the number of people willing to get married in Taiwan. The number of Chinese spouses applying for dependent residency last year was 7,123, down by 2,931, or 29.15 percent, from the previous year. The same census showed that the number of Chinese spouses applying for long-term residency and receiving approval last year stood at 2,973, down 1,520,
EASING ANXIETY: The new guide includes a section encouraging people to discuss the threat of war with their children and teach them how to recognize disinformation The Ministry of National Defense’s All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency yesterday released its updated civil defense handbook, which defines the types of potential military aggression by an “enemy state” and self-protection tips in such scenarios. The agency has released three editions of the handbook since 2022, covering information from the preparation of go-bags to survival tips during natural disasters and war. Compared with the previous edition, released in 2023, the latest version has a clearer focus on wartime scenarios. It includes a section outlining six types of potential military threats Taiwan could face, including destruction of critical infrastructure and most undersea cables, resulting in