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Hsieh says flights ban will be lifted

Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday announced that the government will lift the ban on local airlines flying over Chinese air space.

"Since fuel prices have been raised again, we would do what we can to help local airlines save money," Hsieh said.

"Hopefully, the Chinese government will approve applications to fly over its air space from Taiwanese airlines as soon as possible," he said.

He made the remarks during his opening speech at the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning. He said that the decision to lift the ban was based on a desire to help airlines decrease their costs because of high fuel prices.

Hsieh said that the government would be more than happy to negotiate with its counterpart in China on direct flights, involving both passenger flights and cargo flights, in the near future.

The premier said that the decision to lift the ban would benefit many people because it would definitely shorten flights to Europe, South Asia and the Middle East.

"Passengers will be able to save time on long flights. Airlines will be able to save on operating costs and fuel," he said.

According to Hsieh, this month would be the busiest for the nation's exporters, so he had asked the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to process potential negotiations with the Chinese government for direct flights for both passengers and cargo.

"However, the Chinese government seems to care more about direct passengers flights," he said.

Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that China would figure out what would suit it best before it comes up with any kind of policy or announcement -- as it did with its offer to fruit import offer.

"The Chinese government will not be so stupid as to do something which might not benefit its own market," Cho said.

"As a result, although they currently only care about direct passenger flights, we will continue to try to work on more details with them in the future," he said.

Cho said that the government would be more than happy to lift its ban on direct flights as long as national security is not jeopardized.

In Beijing, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council welcomed the idea of negotiations for direct charter passenger and cargo flights. It said that China is willing to "do its utmost" for anything that is in the interest of the people of Taiwan, that helps promote cross-strait exchanges and that helps maintain peace in the area.

However, the council did not comment on Hsieh's decision to lift the ban on commercial flights flying over Chinese airspace

also see stories:
Legislators laud new flight policy
Airlines eager to fly over China

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