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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (97462)	1/29/2005 5:23:22 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793781

Taiwan, China begin historic flights From correspondents in Taipei and Beijing The Australian COMMERCIAL jetliners from Taiwan and China took off today for the first non-stop flights in 55 years across the narrow strait dividing the arch-foes, raising hopes for permanent air links and better ties. A China Airlines Airbus A330-300 wheeled off from Taipei's international airport shortly before 8am (11am AEDT) and is set to be the first Taiwan airline to fly to Beijing since 1949, scheduled to land at 12.20pm (3.20pm AEDT). Minutes later, a Boeing from China Southern Airlines took off from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, set to be the first Chinese airliner - except for hijacked aircraft - to land in Taipei since 1949, at 9.30am (12.30pm AEDT). The temporary charter services will ferry Taiwan business people and their families home for the Lunar New Year on February 9, the biggest holiday in the Chinese-speaking world. Taiwan has banned direct transport links with China since the Nationalists fled to the island in 1949 after losing the mainland to the communists in a civil war. "I can't describe how excited I am. The world is watching this historic moment and I am so proud to be part of it," said Jessica Pan, a flight attendant for Taiwan's China Airlines, before take-off. An estimated one million of Taiwan's people, or five per cent of its population, work or live in China and must normally fly via places such as Hong Kong when travelling between the two sides. China views self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and vows to attack the democratic island of 23 million people if it moves towards formal statehood. Officials from Taipei and Beijing held out hope the temporary charters could lead to a resumption of talks and reduce political tension in the Taiwan Strait, which many security analysts see as one of Asia's most dangerous flashpoints. "We hope the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can turn their confrontational relationship into that of cooperation," said Joseph Wu, chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council. "I am very happy we can see the Lunar New Year charter flights taking place. That will make a very good basis for the development of cross-Strait relations." Under the landmark agreement clinched by aviation officials acting in a private capacity, 12 carriers are to operate 48 charter flights between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China and Taiwan's Taipei and Kaohsiung from January 29 to February 20. In 2003, Taiwan airlines were commissioned to fly holiday charters between Shanghai and Taipei. Taiwan barred direct flights, requiring them to make stops in Hong Kong or Macau. Last year, China refused to allow a repeat of the 2003 charter flights, fearing it could help Mr Chen win re-election.