If the SARS cloud has any silver lining it may be how it forces suspicious neighbours to work together. In the case of Taiwan and China, it could mark a new step in normalising aviation relations between them.
The SARS outbreak forced Taiwan in mid-May to suspend its only cross-strait shipping link with mainland China - a route from Xiamen province to Taiwan's outlying island of Kinmen. That, plus quarantine measures on indirect shipping and on ships sailing directly across the straits under third country flags has raised concerns about freighting delays. Taiwanese legislators have called for air cargo charters as a solution, citing the passenger charters allowed earlier this year during the Chinese New Year holidays.
In response, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian introduced the idea of cargo charters at a high-level national security meeting and told agency heads to draw up plans. Vice President Annette Lu predicted that direct cargo links would attract foreign investment. The next day China's Taiwan Affairs Office welcomed the move and promised to facilitate it.
In typical fashion, however, both sides are now negotiating through public announcements. China wants reciprocal access to Taiwan for its cargo carriers, and Taipei insists that talks about the flights occur at official levels, rather than between airlines. That would force Beijing to deal directly with Taipei. Similar posturing preceded the deal on passenger charters earlier this year.
Commercial pressures are mounting for both governments to step back from their political positions and allow the cargo charters.
Source: Airline Business
