TAIPEI, 30 January 2005 — The first direct flights between bitter rivals China and Taiwan since the end of a civil war 55 years ago started yesterday, carrying Lunar New Year holidaymakers amid hopes for improving cross-strait relations.
Six Chinese planes landed in Taipei and one in southern Kaohsiung while Taiwan’s China Airlines and EVA Airways also each sent a flight to Beijing on the first day of the temporary opening of the air links.
The planes are all scheduled to return to their home bases later.
China’s flag carrier Air China flew two planes from its subsidiary Shangdong Airlines to avoid showing the mainland flag in Taiwan.
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, who is currently visiting the Pacific nation of Palau, said the landmark flights proved “difficulties can be overcome as long as the two sides have sincerity and sit down to negotiate.”
Chen also urged Beijing to allow the aircraft to fly over the airspace of other countries, rather than just Hong Kong as with the current services, the United Daily News here reported.
Passengers and crew aboard the flights that first landed in Taiwan were greeted at Taipei’s Chiang Kai-shek International Airport by government officials, parliamentarians and business representatives.
“The exchange of commercial flights is a historic step in cross-strait relations and it can serve as model to settle future bilateral issues,” said Chiu Tai-san, vice chairman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, who greeted them to a red carpet welcome.
“Reaching an agreement allowing the flights means the two sides are able to shelve their political differences in order to seek mutual benefits to better bilateral ties,” said Chiu after the first two mainland planes landed. “Let’s welcome the first direct flights which have contributed greatly to the future reunification of the two sides,” shouted one man who was waving both China and Taiwan’s national flags.
The two Beijing-bound Taiwanese flights, which carried about 500 passengers, were met by Beijing authorities in a warm welcoming ceremony.
