China may permit Taiwanese carriers to fly through its airspace in what would be the first step in establishing direct air links between the two sides.
But Taiwan must recognize Beijing's "one China" principle before direct flights can actually start, Xinhua quoted Chinese aviation officials as saying yesterday.
In unofficial discussions held in Beijing with representatives from Taiwan's six airlines, Chinese aviation officials agreed to discuss allowing flights into its airspace to cut costs and flight times, according to a statement released by pro-unification lawmaker Elmer Feng (馮滬祥) yesterday.
In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the US, use of Chinese airspace would also help Taiwan carriers steer clear of Afghan airspace, cut costs and save time, said Feng, who is a member of the New Party and led the delegation to Beijing.
Use of Chinese airspace would still require prior application by Taiwan's airlines and bilateral discussions, the statement said.
However, China routinely insists that any bilateral discussions on air links must be conducted under the "one China" principle, a precondition Taipei rejects.
The unofficial delegation, which is headed by Feng, arrived in Beijing Thursday for the three-day discussions and includes executives from China Airlines Co (華航), EVA Airways Corp (長榮), Far Eastern Air Transport (遠東), Mandarin Airlines (華信), Uni Air (立榮) and TransAsia Airlines (復興).
There was also agreement that if air links are considered internal, discussions should continue between private companies, which could later be authorized to hammer out the details of direct links.
This follows the Chinese government's stance on the renegotiation of the air agreement between Taiwan and Hong Kong, which Beijing says can be done in the private sector.
Indeed, while the executives have met senior Chinese officials, including Bao Peide (包培德), vice minister of China's Civil Aviation Administration, the Taiwanese delegation was devoid of Taiwanese government officials.
But adamant that Taiwan be treated as an equal, separate entity, the Mainland Affairs Council has stuck to its guns on demanding that such agreements be conducted between governments and without political preconditions.
John Deng (鄧振中), vice chairman of the council, said that while private firms can seek business opportunities in China, the business of negotiating aviation agreements is strictly a government matter.
"It is quite clear that [aviation agreements] are under government jurisdiction and only government agencies can perform that function," Deng said.
Deng admitted that Taiwan's airlines, eager to fight off red ink by expanding their operations in China, have been pressuring the government to move on establishing air links across the Strait.
"Industry is of course quite eager to have direct links established and they always make this point very clear to us [and] that is under consideration," Deng said.
Nieh Kuo-wei (聶國偉), spokesman for EVA, applauded the discussions, saying that the government's decision to ease the "no haste, be patient" policy that restricts invest investment in China had paved the way for Beijing officials to invite the representatives and would prove beneficial to the establishment of direct air links.
"If we can talk about some of the technical issues -- once the political issues are sorted out -- then it will be much quicker and easier for us to establish direct links," Nieh said.
Nieh added chance to meet Chinese officials and other industry executives provides a channel for Taiwan airlines to discuss technical issues prior to being permitted access to the lucrative market.
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