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DPP issues defense of government's cross-strait policy

The DPP has defended the administration's China policies in a newly-released booklet, saying the government can not yet approve direct cross-strait flights out of concern for national security concerns and the negative impact such flights could have on the economy.

According to the DPP booklet -- The Q and A to Defend the Government -- the Ministry of National Defense has said that it will have only four minutes to respond after a warning is received of a Chinese warplane attack, if a direct-flight route is permitted between Taiwan and China.

From a social perspective, the direct-flight initiative would cause great harm to the nation's economy because the short flight time -- around one-and-a half hours from Taipei to Shanghai -- would attract more Taiwanese to go to China, the booklet said.

It also pointed out the direct-flight scheme would make it easier for the Chinese authorities to buy Taiwanese hearts and to create identity confusion.

According to the DPP pamphlet, regardless of the high expectations of the business sector, a recent survey found that more than 50 percent of respondents have great anxiety about the impact direct flights would have on national security. The respondents backed the government's policy of taking improved relations one step at a time.

The government permitted 16 cross-strait direct charter flights to be operated by local airlines between Taiwan and Shanghai to ferry Taiwanese businesspeople and their families back home for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Mainland Affairs Council is still working on its evaluation of the the charter flight initiative.

Council Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said the DPP's explanations are not related to the council's assessment, which he said will be made public at the appropriate time.

The pamphlet also rejected criticism that the party should bear responsibility for the deadlock in communications with China. It noted that it is Beijing's insistence on the "one China" principle as a precondition to negotiations that the DPP can not agree to.
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