Taiwan Evaluates China's Proposal for Cross-Strait Flights Amid Skepticism

Taiwan considers China's proposal to resume direct flights from five mainland cities but remains skeptical about its viability due to travel restrictions and potential financial losses. Taiwanese officials emphasize the need for genuine reforms and question the practicality and intentions behind Beijing's incentives.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) is deliberating over a letter from China proposing the resumption of direct flights from five mainland cities, raising concerns about the proposal's practicality and intentions, as reported by The Taipei Times. The letter coincided with a visit to China by the Chinese Nationalist Party's Cheng Li-wun.

China's initiative includes flights to Urumqi, Xian, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou as a part of broader incentives aimed at Taiwan. However, MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh expressed skepticism, citing disinterest from Taiwan's aviation sector due to China's travel restrictions from those cities, which could result in low profitability of these routes.

Executive Yuan spokeswoman Michelle Lee reiterated Taiwan's support for stable cross-strait exchanges but noted limited demand for such routes. Additionally, Taiwan has criticized China's broader policy maneuvers, labeling them as superficial eases in restriction that don't constitute meaningful reforms, according to The Taipei Times.