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Direct flights on Dragon Boat Festival possible: Su

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said that the government may allow direct chartered flights during the Dragon Boat Festival.

"If we finish all the necessary negotiations, direct chartered flights during the Dragon Boat Festival will become a reality," Su said.

Su made his remarks in response to a question by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Chen-nan (李鎮楠) at the legislative floor. The festival is traditionally a peak period for cross-strait travel, as Taiwanese fly to or from China to visit their families.

Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo Yao-chi (郭瑤琪) said that initial negotiations with the Chinese government for the chartered flights had worked out well.

She added though that the government was hoping that the chartered flight issue can be combined with the lifting of the ban on Chinese visitors so "there will be more benefits for the government."

In response to Su and Kuo's comment, Lee showed statistics from an online survey that said 33 percent of Taiwanese people do not welcome Chinese visitors, as they are concerned over the potential spread of diseases and national security.

"We cannot simply lift the ban on Chinese visitors before relevant [safeguard] mechanisms are set up," Lee said.

Having answered Lee's question, Su went on to say that former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) did not take the chance during his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) to demand that the latter stop oppressing Taiwan

Su told lawmakers he was disappointed at Lien's failure to promote the idea of "one China with each side having its own interpretation." This, the premier, said would be an acknowledgement of Hu's recognition of the existence of the Republic of China and should put a stop to Beijing's blocking of Taiwan in international settings.

Touching on other cross-strait issues, Su said that the government would not recognize diplomas from Chinese academic institutions without first studying the potential impact of the initiative on the development of Taiwan's education system.

"Recognizing diplomas earned in China is not only a political issue, but also a difficult task that needs careful consideration as it would affect Taiwanese students' rights, opportunities and benefits," Su said.
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