http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...taiwan_flights
By ANNIE HUANG, Associated Press Writer
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Jetliners from China landed in rival Taiwan for the first time in 56 years Saturday, raising hopes that the flights will cool tensions in one of the world's most dangerous potential flashpoints.
A Chinese pilot smiled and waved after landing his China Southern Airlines plane in the capital, Taipei. Taiwan had banned Chinese airlines from flying to the island since the Communists won a civil war and took over the mainland in 1949.
The flight, which originated in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, carried 277 Taiwanese businesspeople and their families returning for the Lunar New Year — the biggest holiday on the Chinese calendar. Only Taiwanese were allowed on the holiday charter flights, which last through Feb. 20.
Wu Chien-chang, a businessman working in Guangzhou, said, "We hope this historic flight can soon bring about regular air service so we Taiwanese businesspeople can have lunch on the mainland and get back to Taiwan in time for dinner."
Although political relations are icy, business ties between the rivals have been booming. Bilateral trade in 2004 climbed to $70 billion, a 34 percent increase from 2003.
Until Saturday, travelers had to stop in Hong Kong — a part of China that is not ruled directly by Beijing — or another third point before flying to and from the mainland. The stopover turns the flight into a daylong journey.
Saturday's nonstop Guangzhou-Taipei flight took about 90 minutes. Three other flights were making the four-hour trip from Beijing, and two more were coming from Shanghai, a three-hour journey.
Taiwan's biggest carrier, China Airlines, made its first flight to Beijing. The trip was part of the series of 48 charter flights approved for the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, which begins Feb. 9.
The flights marked a rare break in feuding across the Taiwan Strait. Chinese and Taiwanese leaders haven't met since they split, and Beijing has repeatedly threatened to use force to unify the two sides. A war could involve the United States, which has helped defend the Taiwanese.
Most of the 23 million people on democratic Taiwan oppose joining the mainland as long as it's ruled by the Communists.
Many hoped that Saturday's flights would help normalize relations and pave the way for talks and direct transport links.
After he greeted travelers, high-ranking Taiwanese official Chiu Tai-san said: "This is a historic stride in cross-strait relations. We hope this won't just be a one-time event."
Wu Rongnan, president of China's Xiamen Airlines, which also flew to Taiwan on Saturday, told reporters, "This is a happy day because we completed a journey of history, a journey of family affection."
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Wow. I hope that this portends a peaceful future between these two nations.
Chinese Jets Land in Taiwan After 56 Years
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