A spokesman with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council criticized separatist remarks by Taiwan leaders in recent days, saying they run counter to Taiwanese' wishes and fundamental interests.

"It's very natural these remarks meet with attack and opposition from the public as they run counter to Taiwanese' wishes and fundamental interests," the spokesman said.

Compatriots in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are working to push personnel exchange and economic and cultural communication. They hope to realize cross-Straits passenger and cargo charter flights, Taiwan tours by mainlanders and the promotion of cross-Straits relations on the track to peace and stability, the spokesman said.

But contrary to this, the separatist remarks of "Taiwan independence" by leaders of the Taiwan authorities have intended to make the Chinese mainland and Taiwan stand against each other and have caused new tension.

Although the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are not reunited, the fact they belong to one China has never changed, he said.

He stressed that anything involving China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all the 1.3-billion Chinese people, he stressed.

He said the central government will continue to work with Taiwan compatriots and oppose any "Taiwan independence" activities and promote cross-Straits relations, peace and stability.

Flights talks need action from Taipei

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration have repeatedly pledged to improve cross-Straits ties since taking power in May 2000.

Regrettably, they have done little to honour their words. Rather, they have used every possible means to set obstacles for cross-Straits exchanges, especially the establishment of the three direct links trade, transport and postal services across the Straits.

So we hope Taipei really means it this time when Taiwanese "premier" Frank Hsieh agreed to discuss cross-Straits cargo and passenger charter flights with the mainland on Wednesday.

Since the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council immediately welcomed Hsieh's statements on the same day, practical steps from both sides should follow to ensure the negotiations start as soon as possible.

In fact, talks on cross-Straits charter flights would already have started if Taipei had shown its sincerity.

As early as in March, the mainland proposed private talks about launching regular cross-Straits passenger charter flights as soon as possible. The call was based on the successful operation of a historic non-stop cross-Straits charter flight programme for the Spring Festival holidays between January 29 and February 20.

But Taipei resolutely rejected the proposal while insisting on talking about air cargo charters in the first stage through official negotiations with Beijing. The refusal resulted in the delay of related talks by five months.

In contrast to its passive attitude, Taipei's approval of synchronous talks on both passenger and cargo charter flights on Wednesday, late as it was, is nevertheless a sign of progress. It also showed the DPP administration must envisage the inevitable trend of closer cross-Straits trade relations and the Taiwanese people's dream of better ties with the mainland, no matter how reluctant the administration is.

If the two sides can reach an agreement on opening up cross-Straits cargo and passenger charters, we would really be pushing ahead with the realization of the much-needed three direct links.

Despite political tension across the Taiwan Straits, bilateral economic relations and personnel exchanges have grown stronger and stronger over the past two decades.

By the end of May, indirect cross-Straits trade volume had totalled to US$438 billion and Taiwanese investors had funded 65,568 projects on the mainland with an actual investment of US$40.58 billion. Last year, the mainland received a total of 3.7 million Taiwanese visitors.

But the absence of direct air and shipping links across the Straits has hindered the development of bilateral trade ties and caused great inconvenience to travellers. That is why Taiwanese businesses and residents have clamoured for Taipei to allow full-blown air and shipping links to cut transportation costs and facilitate cross-Straits travel.

Given Taipei's refusal to lift its decades-old ban on the three direct links, launching cross-Straits charter flights undoubtedly would be a feasible solution and a good interim arrangement.

Of course, Taipei's willingness to talk is only an initial step. If the DPP administration just takes advantage of the matter to make political gains, as it has previously done, nothing will be achieved. After all, sincerity and concrete action rather than words and political games are badly needed.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily August 5, 2005)