BEIJING, Jan. 10 -- As the Chinese mainland and the aviation corporations both in the mainland and Taiwan brace themselves for direct charter flights for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on February 9, the Taiwan authorities' sincerity to ease cross-Straits tension and wishes to really serve Taiwan compatriots are being tested.

    A six-member delegation from the Kuomintang arrived Beijing yesterday to meet with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) for negotiations about the programme.

    The positive move is happening just days after Pu Zhaozhou, director of the Office of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs under CAAC, said the mainland is open to negotiations about the programme. Pu said on January 3 that charter flights during the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year should be handled in accordance with the principle of the direct and two-way formula.

    Given that the number of mainland-based Taiwan businesspeople who want to return to Taiwan for family reunions is so large, the mainland also expects to expand the number of destinations for the charter flight plan to Beijing, Guangzhou and Xiamen instead of only Shanghai.

    The proposal was echoed by the Taiwan-based "China Airlines," which said it will deal with the charter flights in line with the policies and book three air routes from Taipei to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

    Obviously, Beijing and the aviation authorities on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are working hard to promote the launch of charter flights across the Straits for Spring Festival, during which Chinese people usually return home for family reunions.

    During the 2003 Spring Festival, six Taiwanese airlines were allowed to operate 16 charter flights between the mainland and the island, which was the first such move in 54 years. But the flights were indirect and had to make stopovers in Hong Kong or Macao because of the absence of direct trade, transport, and postal links between the mainland and the island. The mainland's airlines were completely excluded from running the flights.

    This flight model was convenient to island-bound Taiwan compatriots to some extent, but it still caused extreme inconvenience to them and increased their transport costs because of the transit from a third city.

    To really meet the needs of Taiwan businesspeople on the mainland, save their time and cut the operating costs of the airlines involved, the mainland has always insisted that the charter flights should be direct and operated by airlines on both sides of the Straits.

    The mainland also proposes that both sides decide the procedures and related technical details of charter flights through nongovernment negotiation.

    It is completely practical and feasible to do so if both sides really bear the fundamental interests of Taiwan compatriots in mind.

    The mainland has done all it can to this end. So should the Taiwan authorities.

    Hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese business people and their families live and work on the mainland and about 300,000 of them are estimated to head for the island for holiday festivities every year.

    For those who have had year-long hard work on the mainland, and have amassed enormous wealth not only for the mainland but also for the island, we have no reason not to satisfy their strong aspirations to return home smoothly for family reunions.

    As time runs out, it is earnestly hoped that the Taiwan authorities show real sincerity and take concrete action to serve Taiwan compatriots and help improve cross-Straits ties.

    (Source: China Daily)