Both sides of the Strait have smoothly conducted the negotiations on the 2005 Lunar New Year charter flights in Macao. As Chairman Jaushieh Joseph Wu has mentioned in his statement, the significance of this success is that both sides are able to “put aside disputes, lay no preconditions, express mutual respect and act pragmatically, with the government taking initiative and the private sector providing assistance” in promoting mutually beneficial and reciprocal exchanges for the benefit of the people’s welfare and in creating a foundation for mutual trust.
The present negotiations on the Lunar New Year charter flights are conducted based on the spirit of the Taiwan-Hong Kong air route negotiations in 2002. Both sides have entrusted and authorized their representatives to conduct the negotiations. The significance of the negotiations is even greater than the Taiwan-Hong Kong air route negotiations in 2002. Regardless of the titles used by the representatives of both sides to participate in the negotiations, the officials of the civil aviation authorities of both sides did meet face-to-face in the afternoon of January 15 in Macao to conduct the negotiations on the Lunar New Year charter flights and smoothly achieved a concrete consensus. The model used in the negotiations has established a solid foundation for the further implementation of cross-strait talks and negotiations.
The results of the negotiations on the Lunar New Year charter flights have been achieved by seeking the greatest possible consensus among the different positions and considerations held by both sides. Concrete results have been achieved in many areas, including technical, policy, and safety matters involved in the implementation of the Lunar New Year charter flights. The main results of the negotiations are attached. The representatives of both sides have especially made concrete arrangements for safety matters, and have declared that the civilian aircraft will definitely not be used for non-civilian purposes. This is very significant to the establishment of mutual trust across the Strait. We also expect that the smooth implementation of the cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year will create opportunities for cross-strait exchanges that are mutually beneficial and reciprocal, and further open up a new prospect for benign cross-strait interaction.
Main Results of the Negotiations on the 2005 Lunar New Year Charter Flights
January 15, 2005
1. Period of implementation: January 29, 2005 to February 20, 2005
2. Points of destinations:
1) in China: Shanghai (Pudong Airport), Beijing (Capital International Airport), Guangzhou (Baiyun International Airport)
2) in Taiwan: Taoyuan (CKS International Airport), Kaohsiung (Hsiao-kang International Airport)
3. Number of commercial airlines operating the charter flights: maximum of 6 Taiwanese airline companies; maximum of 6 mainland Chinese airline companies
4. Number of flights: a total of 48 flights, 24 each for Taiwan and China
5. Passengers are restricted to Taiwanese businessmen, their staff, and their family members.
6. Flight routes in both directions shall follow the existing routes between Taipei/Kaohsiung and Hong Kong, and between Hong Kong and the points of destinations in Mainland China.
7. The examination and mutual authentication of identification documents of aircraft and flight crew shall adopt the procedures used in the 2003 Lunar New Year charter flights.
8. Each side shall draw up their own regulations for the examination of flight procedures.
9. Boarding inspection after aircraft landing: Upon landing, all aircraft shall be cleared for security inspection in accordance with the regulations.
10. Both sides declare that the civilian aircraft will never be used for non-civilian purposes.