Imran Khan
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Direct daily flights start between China-Taiwan: state media
Updated at: 0630 PST, Monday, December 15, 2008
BEIJING: Direct daily flights between China and Taiwan began on Monday, official media announced, one of the most visible steps to mark rapidly improving relations between the island and the mainland this year.
Direct shipping transport and postal services across the Taiwan Strait also started on Monday, Chinese news agency reported.
The first flight departed the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen for Taiwan at 7:20 am (2320 GMT Sunday), with another one taking off from Shanghai 40 minutes later, media reported.
A commercial flight from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei also departed for Shanghai at 8:00 am, according to agency.
China and Taiwan have been separated since the end of a civil war in 1949, and the communist authorities in Beijing have threatened to invade the island should it ever seek formal independence.
However relations between the two sides have improved dramatically this year, following the election of Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan's president.
Direct flights have been available only at weekends for the past few months, and they were ramped up to daily services as ties grew closer.
Twelve air carriers from the two sides have applied for 101 flights in the first week, providing services between four Taiwan and 12 Chinese cities, authorities said earlier.
Taiwan's transportation ministry estimates local airlines and passengers will save around three billion Taiwan dollars (89.8 million US) a year, and shipping companies around half that, with the direct links.
Updated at: 0630 PST, Monday, December 15, 2008
BEIJING: Direct daily flights between China and Taiwan began on Monday, official media announced, one of the most visible steps to mark rapidly improving relations between the island and the mainland this year.
Direct shipping transport and postal services across the Taiwan Strait also started on Monday, Chinese news agency reported.
The first flight departed the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen for Taiwan at 7:20 am (2320 GMT Sunday), with another one taking off from Shanghai 40 minutes later, media reported.
A commercial flight from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei also departed for Shanghai at 8:00 am, according to agency.
China and Taiwan have been separated since the end of a civil war in 1949, and the communist authorities in Beijing have threatened to invade the island should it ever seek formal independence.
However relations between the two sides have improved dramatically this year, following the election of Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan's president.
Direct flights have been available only at weekends for the past few months, and they were ramped up to daily services as ties grew closer.
Twelve air carriers from the two sides have applied for 101 flights in the first week, providing services between four Taiwan and 12 Chinese cities, authorities said earlier.
Taiwan's transportation ministry estimates local airlines and passengers will save around three billion Taiwan dollars (89.8 million US) a year, and shipping companies around half that, with the direct links.
