Taiwan Allows Domestic Airlines to Transit Chinese Airspace

　　The Executive Yuan has marked a new advancement in cross-strait policy by announcing that Taiwan-based air carriers would be allowed to fly through airspace controlled by mainland China; and the first flight permitted by the mainland authories had overflown through the Chinese airspace to Paris on Sep. 4 . This follows up on an arrangement that permitted cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year season.

　　Premier Frank Hsieh made the announcement on Aug. 3, explaining that it would enable Taiwanese air carriers to save fuel and be more competitive in the face of the added cost burden imposed by soaring oil prices. The overflying of Chinese airspace, he said, would be easier and more practicable to implement than the institution of direct cargo charter flights between Taiwan and mainland China.

　　In regard to negotiations over cross-strait cargo charter flights, a matter of intense concern to many businesses, Premier Hsieh directed the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to speed up the process. Since the mainland Chinese authorities want to negotiate cargo and passenger charters at the same time, Hsieh indicated that talks could proceed simultaneously on cargo and passenger charter flights during major festival periods and to fill other special needs. For more related information, please visit http://www.ey.gov.tw/.

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