KMT Legislator John Chang (章孝嚴) yesterday criticized the government for initially opposing charter flights, only to take credit for the success of Sunday's flight to and from Shanghai.
On Sunday, a China Airlines plane made a historic landing at Shanghai's Pudong Airport and returned to Taipei, marking the first time a Taiwanese carrier has touched down in China in 54 years.
Chang said that in the early stages of planning charter flights, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and even President Chen Shui-bian (
"Yet now, after noting that the charter-flight service has been well-received by China-based Taiwanese businessmen, the government appears eager to take the credit for it," Chang said.
In a speech on Sunday, Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) praised the historic flight and said that the flight is the result "of the government's effort to give Taiwanese businessmen and their families a more convenient way to come home."
Chang, who proposed the plan, arrived in Taipei last night along with fellow KMT legislators Lee Chuan-chia (
Saying that he is happy to see the charter-flight service a success, Chang added that he will continue to push for direct flights between Taiwan and China where no stopover is needed.
Six Taiwanese carriers have permission to operate a total of 16 round-trip flights until the cut-off date of Feb. 9.
As a result of security concerns, the flights are required to make stopovers in Hong Kong or Macau.
Meanwhile, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
While expressing satisfaction with Sunday's flight, Lien said Chinese airlines should also be allowed to operate such a service.
"In order to better serve the needs of China-based Taiwanese businessmen, I hope that in the near future there will be real direct links between Taiwan and China where no stopover is needed," Lien said.
At a separate press conference yesterday, the council's vice chairman, Chen Ming-tong (陳明通), restated the council's position that it hopes both sides can soon negotiate on the issue of direct links.
At a press conference held at CKS International Airport after the group's arrival last night, Chang said that "Taipei has upheld its self-respect during the whole charter-flight event and it has not in any way allowed its self-respect to be violated -- as some people had previously expressed that they were concerned that that may have been the case."
Chang added that he believes the experience gained through the charter-flight service would be helpful for the future. He said that everybody is now holding their breath and waiting for the government to see if they will build on this experience.
He said it would pave the way for future opportunities in the area of cross-strait direct links.
RSS