Mainland China and Taiwan linked by direct flights
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Posted on: July 6th, 2008 by Doug Smith
After nearly 60 years, regularly-scheduled direct flights have resumed between mainland China and Taiwan. Taiwan’s new president has been the force behind this new development. Since taking office in May he has advocated the resumption of regular transport ties with mainland China.
In a move that heralds a change in the cool relations between Taiwan and China, flights between the two resumed on 4 July.
On the morning of the 4th, a jet carrying 100 passengers touched down at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. The flight originated in the city of Guangzhou, in southern China.
Shortly afterwards, another plane landed – this time at Taipei’s Songshan Airport, having originated in Xiamen.
A government official said of the events: “Today is a new start in the history of exchanges between the two sides.”
In 1949, when the Chinese Nationalist forces were defeated by the Communists and fled to Taiwan, the island was cut off from the mainland and no regularly-scheduled flights have existed between the two sides of the strait since then. A few chartered flights have been permitted on occasion.
The new service is attributed to Taiwan’s new President Ma Ying-Jeou. He took office in May of this year, and has been a strong advocate of closer tied with mainland China, particularly in transport and trade.
www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/web/english/index.jsp