John Chang wishes government would be more responsive on chartered flights

KMT Legislator John Chang (章孝嚴), who has petitioned for cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday, yesterday portrayed the government's response as positive but not liberal enough.

The Mainland Affairs Council issued a statement saying the proposed charter flights, being part of direct transport links with China, require government-to-government talks before they can go into practice.

But the top China policy making agency added that domestic airlines may apply to the Chinese authorities for indirect charter flights to expedite the return of Taiwanese businesspeople in China for the coming Lunar New Year holiday.

"Before cross-strait negotiations resume, domestic air companies are allowed to seek Chinese approval for indirect charter flights, which must make stopovers in Hong Kong or Macau before entering Taiwan," the council's statement said.

Chang, whose petition has the backing of 130 legislators, said the required stopovers will add two to three hours to air travel.

"What other colleagues and I are pressing for is nonstop charter fights across the Strait. We would agree to fly over Hong Kong or Macau but we hope the landing can be scrapped," he said.

It takes passengers six to seven hours to fly to China via Hong Kong or Macau from Taiwan.

There are no direct flight services between Taiwan and China, which have remained hostile toward each other since 1949.

Chang, however, said he took solace in the government's willingness to ease rules on the sensitive matter.

"I see hope [on the direct charter flights] though the government's reply is far from being satisfactory," the lawmaker said, adding that he would press forward.

Earlier in the day, he filed applications with six domestic air carriers to provide 20 flights each to carry China-based Taiwanese business people home between Jan. 25 and Feb. 5.

At least 300,000 Taiwanese living in China are expected to come home for the holidays, he said.

Chang, the former foreign minister, said he plans to lead a delegation, including representatives from the air industry, across the Strait later this month to give the matter a further push.

He said he will invite government officials join his tour so the two sides can bridge their differences in an unofficial manner.

If that fails to occur, the legislator said he intends to organize another trip in early December.

"Nonstop charter flights remain possible if legal obstacles can be resolved then," Chang said.

Chang, who has pushed for the charter flights on behalf of Taiwanese businesspeople in China, said on Friday that Chinese airlines have agreed not to take part in the service and that worries over national security are exaggerated.