The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) yesterday said it had decided to put on hold a meeting to discuss amendments to an aviation pact between Taiwan and the Philippines following the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by personnel aboard a Philippine Coast Guard vessel on Thursday last week.
Based on the pact, each side can assign two airlines to operate regular flights between Taipei and Manila. Taiwan has designated China Airlines and EVA Airways as the exclusive operators of the flights from Taipei, while the Philippines has appointed Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air to operate the flights from Manila.
An amendment to the pact was proposed when a third carrier in the Philippines sought to join the Taipei-Manila route. Aviation officials from both sides met in Taipei last year. Although they did not reach a consensus, they agreed to meet again.
According to the CAA, the Philippines bought up the matter again at the beginning of the year, but both sides had not set a date for a second meeting.
Following the fatal shooting last week, the CAA decided to set aside the proposal for a new aviation pact.
However, suspending flight services between the two countries may be a more difficult decision to make.
Statistics from the CAA showed that Taiwanese carriers offer more flights than their Philippine counterparts. China Airlines offers a total of 18 passenger flights per week between Taipei and Manila, and between Greater Kaohsiung and Manila. It also provides two cargo flights per week as well as charter flight services.
EVA offers seven flights per week between Taipei and Manila.
Taiwan’s Mandarin Airlines also has two flights per week between Taipei and Boracay, Philippines.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific together offer 21 passenger flights per week to Taipei. Spirit of Manila Airlines also operates four passenger flights per week between Taipei and Boracay.
Other airlines in the Philippines can also share the use of 3,100 seats available for charter flights.
The CAA said it is gathering data on flight services between the two countries for review and decisionmaking by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the Executive Yuan.
Other repercussions caused by the shooting began to emerge yesterday.
Tsen’s Mochi (曾記麻糬), a well-known food shop in Hualien City, canceled a trip to Boracay for its employees to protest the incident.
Chairman Dong Chuen-ling said the company would not consider a trip to the Philippines until Manila makes a formal apology and responds to the Taiwanese government’s demands.
Dong added that the company would donate 10 percent of its revenue from the sale of Mid-Autumn Festival moon cakes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Overseas Emergency Rescue Fund.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS