In the eve of direct flight between Taiwan and China, China's ruling party member, Jia Qinglin offered in a speech on January 28 a conciliatory posture toward Taiwan to restart diplomatic talks. But he is firm on the one China principle. Jia in his speech suggested that China was willing to talk to Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's President.
The charter direct flight which begins on Saturday, January 29 is offered for only the next three weeks, as China celebrates the Lunar New York. Twenty-four lights are scheduled between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China and Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. But the flights must detour through Hong Kong airspace. (Source: :Jim Yardley and Chris Buckley, The New York Times, Jan. 29, 2005).