The government is considering launching cargo charter flights with China to ease cross-strait tension, a Chinese-language newspaper said yesterday.
"After launching passenger charter flights for the Chinese New Year, authorities plan to launch passenger charter flights for the next festival, the Dragon Boat Festival. After that, they may allow cargo charter flights shortly afterwards," the paper quoted Council for Economic Planning and Development Chairman Hu Sheng-cheng (胡勝正) as saying.
"Cargo charter flights could cut the cost of Taiwan's exports to China. It is particularly important for Taiwan's export of electronics products to China, which totals US$20 billion each year," he said.
"However, it is up to the Mainland Affairs Council to decide when to launch cargo charter flights," Hu added.
The Dragon Boat Festival falls on July 11 this year.
Taiwan and China launched passenger charter flights last Saturday for the Lunar New Year.
The charter flights, between Jan. 29 and Feb. 20, has paved the way for launching more charter flights and even regular flights between Taiwan and China.
Since Taiwan allowed indirect trade with China in 1987, its indirect trade with China via Hong Kong has tripled from US$5.7 billion in 1988 to US$23.7 billion between January and November last year.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said on Sunday that the charter flights are a good start for improving Taipei-Beijing ties.
"We will continue to promote cross-strait exchanges with goodwill and sincerity. I believe it won't be long before the door of cross-strait reconciliation, cooperation and peace is opened," Chen told reporters in the Solomon Islands.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has urged the government to further loosen the ban on direct air links with China.
"This is only a partial launch of direct flights. We should launch charter flights for other festivals or even for every weekend," Ma said on Sunday.
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
The Hualien Branch of the High Court today sentenced the main suspect in the 2021 fatal derailment of the Taroko Express to 12 years and six months in jail in the second trial of the suspect for his role in Taiwan’s deadliest train crash. Lee Yi-hsiang (李義祥), the driver of a crane truck that fell onto the tracks and which the the Taiwan Railways Administration's (TRA) train crashed into in an accident that killed 49 people and injured 200, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in the first trial by the Hualien District Court in 2022. Hoa Van Hao, a
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
RSS