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- The name list of those participating in the preparatory consultations for the third Chiang-Chen Talks will be made public as soon as the SEF has confirmed it
- During the period between the end of the preparatory consultations and the start of the Chiang-Chen Talks, both sides will continue to communicate on related matters and confirm the text of the agreement
- Specialized departments from both sides are currently communicating with each other regarding scheduled flights and no conclusion has yet been made
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MAC Regular Press Briefing
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Briefer : Johnnason Liu, Deputy Minister
Date : April 16, 2009
Location : Taipei |
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
The name list of those participating in the preparatory consultations for the third Chiang-Chen Talks will be made public as soon as the SEF has confirmed it
QUESTION: What are the names of those participating in the preparatory consultations for the third Chiang-Chen Talks?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ The preparatory consultations are divided into two parts. One part is concerning the overall communications and another part is concerning group discussions on related matters. Therefore, when it comes to the name list of those on the ROC side who will participate in the preparatory consultations, basically, all members dispatched by the issue-relevant agencies can probably be included on this list.
■ The four issues will involve relevant ministries—including the Ministry of Justice, the Financial Supervisory Commission, the Central Bank, and agencies of the police and justice systems. With regard to matters concerning the overall talks, the ROC side will have several relevant deputy ministers participate. As for group discussions on related matters, in order to complete the negotiations on the relevant issues, it is believed that the persons who originally took part in these communications will all be included on the list. Whether or not persons at the deputy-minister level of the relevant agencies will participate in group discussions will be determined depending on operational needs. We hope that after having confirmed a concrete list of names with the Mainland side, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) will be able to make public such a list at the soonest possible time.
QUESTION: Regarding this Saturday's preparatory consultations, when and in what form will the Mainland delegation meet with SEF Chairman Chiang?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: The visit of the Mainland delegation to Taiwan is purely to discuss the relevant details of the third Chiang-Chen Talks and the issues for negotiations. At the current time there are no plans for a formal meeting with Chairman Chiang. The SEF will hold a banquet for the Mainland delegation during its visit to Taiwan and it is believed that Chairman Chiang will attend the banquet.
During the period between the end of the preparatory consultations and the start of the Chiang-Chen Talks, both sides will continue to communicate on related matters and confirm the text of the agreement
QUESTION: During this Saturday's preparatory consultations, the SEF and the ARATS will communicate with each other regarding the text of the agreement. Can you please tell us whether during the period between the end of the preparatory consultations and the start of the Chiang-Chen Talks, there will be any room for adjustments to be made to the text?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: During the period between the end of the preparatory consultations and the start of the Chiang-Chen Talks, communication between both sides will continue. Following the preparatory consultations, both sides will return and complete the relevant administrative procedures with regard to the consensus achieved during the consultations and will issue a final confirmation. During the interim period both sides will be able to carry on discussions.
QUESTION: Which of the three agreements currently planned for signing at the third Chiang-Chen Talks involves the amendment to the law?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU: Although both sides already have the structure of the text, there are some items that await further communication and confirmation, thus at the current time it is not possible to give concrete explanations on this. Following this Saturday's preparatory consultations between the SEF and the ARATS we should have some more concrete results.
Specialized departments from both sides are currently communicating with each other regarding scheduled flights and no conclusion has yet been made
QUESTION: According to media reports, Civil Aeronautics Administration Director-General Lee Long-wen made a secret trip to Shanghai the day before yesterday for negotiations and Taiwan's original hope that before operating direct scheduled flights in July there would be an increase in weekday charter flights was rejected. Furthermore, there have been media reports that with regard to the ROC side's original hope to expand the number of weekday charter flights from the current 108 to 300 per week, the numbers might actually decrease, and there have even been rumors that the talks have been deadlocked. Would you please confirm these reports?
DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:
■ With regard to scheduled flights and an increase in charter flights, specialized departments from both sides are currently communicating with each other. So far, there has been no decision. The relevant agencies will certainly be fighting for the maximum interests of the ROC side. Prior to the conclusion of the negotiations, the MAC is unable to expound the questions related to flight allocations.
■ With regard to cross-strait negotiations on scheduled flights during the third Chiang-Chen Talks, the operation of regularized cross-strait flights will be implemented based on the foundation of the existing, weekday charter flights. As far as air route optimization and increases in the number of flights and destinations, both sides will make accompanying arrangements in hopes of comprehensively improving air transport efficiency and service quality.