Regular, Chartered Cross-Strait Flights Resuming 兩岸恢復航點 計10定期航班.13包機航點

Ten regular air routes between Taiwan and China have been reinstated starting Friday, with more chartered flights under planning. Premier Chen Chien-jen said the decision is a good will gesture, seeking to create "healthy and normal" cross-Strait relations.

Cross-Strait flights serving up to 13 cities are finally back! In addition to 10 cities being served by regular flights, including Guangzhou, Nanjing, and Chongqing, 13 other cities including Shengyang, Wuxi, Haikou and Changsha will be served by charter flights. Premier Chen Chien-jen says COVID-19 is well under control in Taiwan and he hopes cross-Strait relations can improve as President Tsai Ing-wen wants.

Chen Chien-jen, ROC Premier: “Our Mainland Affairs Council extended Taiwan's greatest show of goodwill. We hope cross-Strait relations can improve to the stage of healthy, effective exchanges via these means.”

The Taiwan Affairs Office, meanwhile, expressed hopes that Taiwan can approve the resumption of direct cross-Strait flights, voyages and reopen the Mini-Three Links as soon as possible. Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Tai-san says speculation about the announcement coming just before President Tsai Ing-wen's overseas trip is baseless. 

Chiu Tai-san, Mainland Affairs Council Minister: “Springtime comes every year, but whether flowers bloom depends on joint effort from both sides.”

Wang Kwo-tsai, Transportation and Communications Minister: “In 2020, (China) stopped allowing tour groups (to Taiwan). So, I think they need to unlock tourism as well. I think both sides should work towards that.”

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications says this is a step in the right direction and the Mini-Three Links will open ahead of the Tomb Sweeping Festival long weekend. KMT lawmaker Chen Yu-jen, meanwhile, says opening Kinmen to Chinese tourists would greatly benefit the local economy.

陸委會宣布10日開始兩岸復航，開放廣州、南京重慶等10個定期航班航點，另外開放13個申請包機航點，包括瀋陽、無錫、海口、長沙等。行政院長陳建仁表示台灣疫情已經妥善控制，期盼兩岸關係能達到總統蔡英文要求的健康有序交流。

行政院長陳建仁提及：「我們陸委會也釋出了台灣最大的善意，我們也希望兩岸的關係能夠透過這樣的途徑，達到總統所要求的健康有效的交流。」

國台辦也回應表示相關規劃符合需要，希望台灣盡快推動兩岸直航、海上直航及小三通全面正常化。兩岸復航時機點，有外界解讀是要降低蔡總統即將出訪的政治後座力，陸委會主委邱太三直言聯想太敏感，未來觀光開放希望對岸不要有過多政治考量。

陸委會主委邱太三表示：「我想每年都會有春暖，花要不要開，是要靠雙方來共同挹注。」

交通部長王國材說道：「中國109年禁團，所以我想說，觀光的鎖也要大陸那邊要開，我想這邊雙方都來努力。」

何時開放陸客來台，交通部也表示現在已經有好的開始，將會繼續發展，清明節前小三通也會開放客運中轉，國民黨立委陳玉珍提到將繼續推動開放陸客訪問金門，希望金門經濟能夠復甦。