Taiwan's aviation delegation, led by Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) director-general Billy Chang (張國政), is slated to meet with its Chinese counterpart in Macau today to discuss issues regarding cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holidays.
The Chinese delegation is led by Pu Zhaozhou (
In addition to Chang, the Taiwan delegation consists of CAA official Fang Chi-wen (
Led by Pu, China's delegation also includes three more CAAC officials.
Praising China's practical attitude toward the charter flights, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (
"We still follow the formula of the Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation. We will put off the dispute, presume no preconditions and respect each other. The government will lead and the private sector will assist," Chiu said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Taiwan will allow Chinese flag-carriers to fly to the country for the first time since 1949 if both sides of the Strait reach an agreement on direct charter flights for next month's Lunar New Year holiday, an official said yesterday.
Air China is the only Chinese airline which carries the national flag.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (
"The national flag will not be a problem, and we don't mind it," Lin told reporters.
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
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