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Freeze on charter flight talks urged

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday that the government should freeze talks on cross-strait charter flights during the Tomb-sweeping Day period in early April and should reassess its overall China policy.

Chen Chin-chun (陳景峻), DPP legislative caucus whip, made the remarks after Pu Zhaozhou (浦照洲), executive director of China Civil Aviation Association, sent a letter to Michael Lo (樂大信), head of the Taipei Airlines Association, earlier yesterday inviting him to discuss the charter flights during Tomb-sweeping Day period based on the same model used for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Pu and Lo, on behalf of each side of the Taiwan Strait, completed discussion on the charter flights for the Lunar New Year holiday in early January, in which the model of joint-participation of air carriers on both sides, and nonstop two-way flights in Hong Kong or Macau was adopted.

Chen noted that the successful launch of cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday should have eased cross-strait relations, but that didn't stop China from pushing its proposed "anti-secession" law targeting Taiwan.

He said that China threatens "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan in the proposed law, but the law also stipulates that it will encourage and promote cross-strait economic exchanges and cooperation, establish direct trade, postal and transportation links and closer economic relations for mutual benefit.

Chen described Beijing's talk about charter flights during the Tomb-sweeping Day period as part of a "carrot and stick" approach that he said lacks true goodwill.

The opposition parties were also lukewarm about talks on the Tomb-sweeping charter flights, with the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) saying that the government should deal with it wisely.

KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) claimed that Beijing made the offer because its proposed "anti-secession" law has caused revulsion among the Taiwanese and because the DPP has halted cross-strait exchanges such as cargo charter flights, forcing Beijing has to extend an olive branch.

Chang said that the US responded positively to cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday and claimed that if Taiwan cannot agree to such services for Tomb-sweeping Day, the US could apply pressure to the DPP government.

The KMT's ally, the People First Party, said it "would be better to slow down" on discussing cross-trait charter flights at present.

PFP caucus whip Chen Chih-bin (陳志彬) said it would be "a bit strange" for the two sides to discuss the charter flight issue in light of China's anti-secession law.

The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) said it opposes the flights.

TSU caucus whip Lo Chih-ming (羅志明) said the party is opposed to charter flight services on holiday, claiming that the services are an attempt to accomplish the normalization of direct flights.

He added that the anti-secession law is like a big stick used to threaten Taiwan and that the country should not kowtow to China. Until Beijing responds with goodwill, Taiwan should not be over-enthusiastic, he said.
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