Although the issue of charter flights to China is economic in nature, the issue should considered within the framework of overall cross-strait transportation policy, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday.
"As we're ready to discuss the issue at the negotiating table at any given time, we'll never lower our negotiation standards simply because we are dealing with irregular charter flights," Cabinet Spokesman Chuang Suo-hang (莊碩漢) quoted the premier as saying yesterday.
If the both sides fail to reach a consensus through negotiations, Yu said that under the principle of maintaining indirect cross-strait air transportation, the government will allow Taiwanese airlines to apply to the Chinese authorities to enter China via Hong Kong or Macau and bring Taiwanese businessmen and their families home via the same route.
Yu made the remarks during the weekly closed-door Cabinet affairs meeting yesterday morning.
Yu first announced the government's move in the legislature on Tuesday after calls from KMT Legislator John Chang (
Shanghai has the largest concentration of Taiwanese business-people in China. Some 300,000 to 400,000 Taiwanese are estimated to live and work there.
If China agrees to the plan, such charter flights could operate from Jan. 27 to Feb. 5.
CKS International Airport and Hsiaokang Airport in Kaohsiung would be authorized to handle the charters flights, according to Yu. Both airports already handle regular flights to Hong Kong and Macau.
Under the government's plan Charter flights would depart Taiwan without passengers and only Taiwanese airlines may apply to operate such flights.
Meanwhile, responding to the opening speech of Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) at the Communist Party's 16th National Congress on Friday, Yu said that he "feels deeply sorry" about the address.
"His report delivers only one message, that is, China has not changed its Taiwan policy of `one China' and `one country, two systems' and has not giving up the possible use of military force against Taiwan," Yu said.
In Friday's speech, Jiang called on Taiwan to shelve political disputes and resume talks with China under the "one China" principle. He also reiterated Beijing's commitment to opening transportation links with Taiwan.
Although Taiwan would like to resume talks and negotiations with China as soon as possible, Yu said, the bottom line is that the talks should be conducted without any political preconditions or under any political framework.
"The government of the Republic of China will do whatever it can to improve cross-strait relations. However, sound cross-strait interaction should be based on respect for the political reality across the Taiwan Strait," Yu said.
As for future cross-strait policies, Yu said that they will be made under President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) principles, which are "peaceful settlement and perpetual cooperation."
RSS