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Taiwan lukewarm on Beijing offer
Willy Wo-Lap Lam
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Taipei has given a lukewarm response to Beijing's offer that talks on direct flight and business links can be held without referring to the "one China" principle. However, with indirect encouragement from Beijing, opposition parties in Taiwan are pushing for limited, chartered direct-flight services to commence as early as February. The cabinet-level Taiwan Affairs Office said in Beijing on Wednesday that discussions between both sides on the technical and business aspects of direct mail, flight and commercial links could be held without interference from political factors such as the "one China principle." TAO spokesman Li Weiyi said, however, that "the three links can never be referred to as being between country and country." He added if this condition was satisfied, negotiations could take place between non-official bodies such as business associations -- and upon agreement, ships and aircraft registered on either side could provide cross-Straits services while flying commercial flags. Until recently, Beijing had insisted that Taipei subscribe to the one-China principle before talks on the three direct links could commence. However, since early summer, senior cadres such as Vice-Premier Qian Qichen have begun telling visiting Taiwan delegations that political issues could be skirted in the course of cross-Straits negotiations on the links. Earlier this month, Qian went further by saying air services between the mainland and Taiwan could be referred to as simply "cross-Straits flights." Formerly, Beijing had insisted that they be identified as "domestic flights." PreconditionsResponding to the TAO's overture late on Wednesday, the Vice-Head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Chen Ming-tong said Taipei would study the proposals thoroughly before giving an official response. The Central News Agency quoted Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian as telling a visiting European delegation that Beijing must not impose any "additional precondition" on talks on the three links. He added: "Taiwan's status must not be diminished, nor should it be rendered into a local government or [otherwise] marginalized." Analysts in Beijing and Taipei said a litmus test of both sides' sincerity could be whether limited-service chartered flights could be allowed on special occasions such as Chinese New Year. Well-known Taiwan opposition legislator John Chang proposed earlier this week that before the three links were established, Taipei should allow one-direction chartered flights to service particular cities during Chinese New Year. TAO's Li said that Beijing would consider proposals put forward by Chang and other opposition politicians or businessmen from Taipei. However, Li said if chartered flights were allowed in future, mainland airlines should also be able to participate. Diplomatic analysts in Taipei said if a breakthrough on talks on the three links could not be reached by next spring, both sides would probably wait until after presidential elections scheduled for March 2004.
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