Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TAIPEI165
2005-01-14 08:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT CHARTER FLIGHTS

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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UNCLAS TAIPEI 000165

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT CHARTER FLIGHTS

"[Taiwan] Government Should Hold a National Policy
Debate on the Cross-Strait Charter Flights Plan and
Make a Final Decision on the Issue by Conducting a
Public Vote"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" editorialized
(1/14):

". The charter flight plan is a policy tool being used
by China to `pressure the officials through businessmen
and to push for unification using economic means.'
China eagerly wants to use the plan to highlight the
fact that `cross-Strait air links are basically
domestic routes' (since the matter is arranged by the
private sectors rather than via talks between the two
governments) and thereby declare to the world that
`cross-Strait issues are domestic affairs.' Beijing
wants to use this fact to convince other countries to
accept its rationalization for use of force against
Taiwan and consequently achieve its ultimate goal of
annexing the island. Thus, questions regarding
`charter flight' and `direct transportation' across the
Taiwan Strait are by no means [related to] an issue
that is so simple that `one can do it anytime one
wants,' unless those who want to do it are those who
want to be become citizens of the PRC. We therefore
want to sincerely remind our government that there are
many things that the government can do for its people,
so it should not waste any more of its precious time on
cross-Strait direct transportation or charter flights.
.

"[We] hope the government would act honestly and
frankly and hold a national debate on the cross-Strait
charter flight and direct translation issues, and then
make a final decision by holding a pubic vote on the
issues. Only by doing so can the government show its
responsibility to all of the people of Taiwan."

PAAL