US welcomes cross-Strait flights between China, Taiwan

Dec 15, 2008, 21:33 GMT

Washington - The United States welcomed the resumption of direct flights between China and Taiwan for the first time in nearly 60 years.

'These transportation links across the Taiwan Straits are very positive, and so we've always encouraged cross-Strait dialogue,' State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said Monday.

   A Shenzhen Airlines plane carrying 122 passengers landed Monday in Taipei, and less than an hour later a Taiwanese TransAsia Airways jet departed Taiwan for Shanghai.

The short voyages marked the first direct cross-Strait flights since 1949 and took place under efforts by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who took office in May pledging to dampen tension between Beijing and Taipei.

The plan opens direct shipping lanes and postal services.

China regards Taiwan as a rogue province and has threatened to use military forces if Taipei declares independence. The Chinese Nationalists fled to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by communists forces.

The Nationalists promptly banned direct travel with China. Since, travellers have had to transit between China and Taiwan by going through a third country.