Answering arguments by some opposition lawmakers that direct links with China could have prevented Saturday's air disaster over the Taiwan Strait, Premier Yu Shyi-kun maintained that Taipei has very little capacity to make direct links a reality.
A number of KMT and PFP lawmakers have made use of the incident to pressure the Chen administration, charging that the disaster could have been avoided if there were direct links with China and hence, Taiwan's planes were permitted to fly direct to Chinese destinations.
While acknowledging direct links to be a national goal, Premier Yu Shyi-kun outlined the government's difficulty yesterday, saying "our government cannot unilaterally decide on how to realize the scheme."
Goal remains, partner needed
"The opening of direct links is one of our major policy goals. The earlier it can be carried out, the better. But [the core of the matter is that] Taiwan cannot decide on its own the details regarding the initiative. Obstacles cannot be resolved if China refuses to negotiate with us," Yu said at the legislature yesterday.
The premier made the remarks after KMT lawmakers Wu Den-yih (
Deflecting criticism that the government has been dragging its feet on direct links, Yu responded that since the DPP government took power, the government had exhibited enormous goodwill toward China by implementing the "three small links" and allowing some Chinese nationals to travel to Taiwan.
He told lawmakers that the Cabinet had been reviewing the Statute Governing the Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (the Statute), which will be presented to the legislature once the review is complete.
Also yesterday, the "pan-green" and the "pan-blue" camps failed to reach a consensus as the opposition sought to win the endorsement of TSU and ruling DPP lawmakers concerning amendments to the Statute, which attempt to accelerate the execution of direct links.
Amendments give opposition leverage
Whereas "pan-green" lawmakers said that the unilateral amendment of the law by Taiwan would not solve disputes surrounding direct links, because the key lies in "bilateral negotiations," the KMT and PFP consider the amendments to be the only way to press the government to speed action on the issue.
"What the government has been saying is like a pie in the sky. So far we have not seen any concrete action by the government to honor its promises," said KMT legislator John Chang (
According to Chang, "Our proposal simply urges the government to make good on President [Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁)] promise when he clearly stated that direct links are a goal being pursued by the government."
Draft would spur transportation links
A proposed KMT and PFP draft states that Taiwan's ships, civil aircraft and other transportation tools may travel to China and that regulations governing such travels shall be drafted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and other relevant agencies within six months.
The proposal seeks to change the current stipulation, which forbids such communications unless transportation companies involved with the transaction obtain the approval of relavent government agencies.
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