Tainan County Government's proposal to build an international airport may vitally boost Taiwan's chances of becoming Asia's transportation hub if effective supporting measures are worked out for the project, a top aviation official said yesterday.
Tainan County Commissioner Su Huan-chih (
Su's airport proposal was sent to the Executive Yuan's Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) at the end of January. The CEPD will hold a meeting to discuss the feasibility of the proposal today.
Billy Chang (
Chang said one of the reasons he agrees with Su's plan is that the airport will be located in a free-trade area.
"If Taiwan cannot expand its air and sea services, it will face the crisis of being marginalized in the region," Chang said.
Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have all attempted to make their airports or seaports regional transportation hubs for Asia.
"It is impossible for Taiwan to compete with these countries if it doesn't have an international airport with 2,000-hectares or more," Chang said.
Taipei's CKS International Airport is the only in the country big enough to handle freight. But it may be difficult for the 1,200-hectare airport to compete with Asia's other major international airports.
Su's international airport proposal suggests that the plan be implemented as a build-operate-transfer project.
Su said if the government cannot provide a sufficient budget for the international airport, the county government would try to draw investments to build the airport on its own.
According to Chang, supporting transportation measures are vital to the success of the Tainan international airport.
"It would be necessary to establish road networks around the airport so that it can link with the major areas in central and southern Taiwan," Chang said.
Chang said Su's proposal was "very good." While the government speculates on the feasibility of Su's proposal, Chang said, the future of the nation's other airports must be considered.
Su's proposal is not without challenges from other local governments who also desire international airports.
Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (
Although freight does pass through Hsiaokang airport, it has to go to CKS airport before leaving the country.
Moreover, one of the campaign pledges of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) is to establish an international airport in Taichung.
Chang said Taiwan does not need four international airports.
If the government decides to build the Tainan airport, it needs to consider whether it is still necessary to build an international airport in Taichung, he said.
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