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Cross-strait flights a 'possibility' for Lunar New Year

The government has not ruled out the possibility of round-trip, direct chartered flights between Taiwan and China for businesspeople returning to Taiwan during this Lunar New Year, according to Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) yesterday.

Chiu was quick to say that direct chartered flights were a possibility as long as China is willing to "sit down and negotiate" over the matter.

"We do not set any preconditions, nor do we hold a set position beforehand, and we hope that China can do the same regarding all cross-strait dialogue -- not set any prerequisites or preconditions," he said.

Chiu confirmed yesterday that Taiwan was willing to consider the possibility of direct flights between here and China for Lunar New Year in February, despite restrictions on direct chartered flights in the past.

After chartered flights were successfully organized for the Lunar New Year holiday last year, authorities ruled that flights had to make a stop in Hong Kong or Macau when traveling between Taiwan and China.

Each year, the issue of whether or not cross-strait chartered flights will be implemented prompts heated debate in Taiwan and China. However, last year was the only time that the flights have taken place at Lunar New Year.

Roughly 1,000 businesspeople took advantage of the service.

"In the past, China wanted the flights to fly in both directions with no stopovers. We are willing to meet China's request, so what more is there to do now but sit down and discuss the matter?" Chiu said.

Chartered flights last year were realized through a project that allowed Taiwanese airlines to apply to Chinese authorities for clearance during the holidays.

Negotiations had been bypassed, with Taiwan unilaterally implementing the project. China nevertheless approved the airlines' applications.

"Perhaps in addition to round-trip flights, China has other expectations or requirements. We do not rule out any of those, either," Chiu said, adding that everything was open to discussion as long as no preconditions were set.

Chiu said that negotiations could be conducted officially by Taiwan and China or by any of the representatives legally authorized by the government to negotiate on its behalf.

Plans for charter flights last Lunar New Year fell through because both parties were unable to agree to terms.

While Taiwanese authorities had asked their Chinese counterparts to sit down and discuss the issue, the offer was rejected by Beijing, which held that the issue should be negotiated by airlines.

"It absolutely cannot be the case that one party can designate who can participate in negotiations," Chiu added.

According to Chiu, charter flights could be arranged by working with the airline companies in response to the needs of China-based Taiwanese businesspeople.
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