Russia announced yesterday that the first direct charter flights between Taipei and Moscow will start Saturday, but stressed that this did not mean that it recognized Taiwan independence.
China Airlines will complete a maiden voyage to Moscow on Aug. 24, with Russia's private carrier Transaero staging its own charter flight to Taipei on Aug. 31, according to Russian media reports last month.
These flights "are exclusively a part of the unofficial, commercial air links which are part of an effort to expand unofficial trade and economic, as well as cultural and tourism ties with Taiwan," the Russian foreign ministry said.
"At the same time, Russia holds to a basic principle that is based on a principle of one China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only one which represents China, Taiwan being its integral part," it said in a statement.
The ministry added that regular commercial flights between the Russia and Taiwan would be launched if the first two flights were considered to be commercially viable.
CAL had earlier applied to Russian aviation authorities for a charter flight from Taipei to Moscow in August and another in September.
Aviation officials said Taiwan and Russia signed a draft aviation pact in 1993 but it was never formalized due to pressure from Beijing.
Beijing opposes any countries signing official air pacts with Taiwan, maintaining this would violate China's sovereignty.
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