In the coming days, the government of the island will ask Beijing for permission to use mainland air space.
Taipei (AsiaNews/agencies) For the first time in 50 years, airplanes belonging to Taiwanese companies may get the go-ahead from Beijing and Taipei to fly over China's airspace. Taiwanese premier, Frank Hsieh Chang-ting has decided to ask the government of the People's Republic of China for permission for cargo and passenger flights coming from Taiwan to fly over mainland airspace. So far, Taiwanese airplanes avoid China's airspace, flying further north over Russia or further south over south-east Asia.
Airspace over the strait is closed because Taipei fears invasion from the People's Republic of China.
The Taiwanese airline companies, China Airlines and Eva Airways have yet to draw up a formal request to the Chinese government and they are currently evaluating for which routes they will seek permission to fly over mainland airspace. If the agreement between the two governments gets off the ground, the two airlines' routes between Taiwan and south Asia and between Taiwan and Europe will be shortened. The airlines would save fuel and time: a flight from Taipei to Paris would be shortened from 12 to 11 hours. To reach India, time saved would be around half an hour.
The declarations of Hsieh have been well received by the Beijing government office which deals with Taiwan affairs.