Chang says direct flights possible by early 2003

Direct commercial flights between Taiwan and China could begin by the end of 2003 if both sides can agree to look beyond complicated differences and end a five-decade-long transport ban, KMT Legislator John Chang (章孝嚴) said yesterday.

"It's hard to predict, but I would think there's a possibility that the air link between Taipei and mainland China could be established before the end of next year," said Chang, who is visiting Beijing with a delegation of businessmen and lawmakers.

Chang, the only surviving grandson of the late KMT strongman Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), said transport across the Strait remained the main hurdle to ending the ban on the direct links.

"In reality, there's no problem with the `three links.' It's just a transport link problem," Chang said.

Last week, the Cabinet unilaterally relaxed curbs on the travel of businesspeople and religious pilgrims between Kinmen and Matsu and cities in Fujian Province. The new measures are expected to go into effect next month.

"I would suggest that the two sides try their best to use so-called `creative ambiguity' to solve problems. Then you can start the talks and the negotiations on the transportation issues," he said.

Chang said Taiwan's talks to renew its air travel agreement with Hong Kong, where he met Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (董建華) before heading to Beijing, could serve as a model for building an agreement on flights between China and Taiwan.

Chang said he hoped the Legislative Yuan would revise laws by November to lay the groundwork for bilateral talks on links.