Direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are an economic, not a political matter, said a China Civil Aviation Association spokesman Monday.

Spokesman Pu Zhaozhou made the remarks in response to the Taiwan authorities' proposal on Wednesday to start regular indirect cargo flights to and from the mainland later this month.

Pu said the flights should be direct.

However, Taiwan authorities have insisted that chartered cargo flights land in Hong Kong or Macao before they reach the mainland.

Tsai Ing-wen, head of Taiwan's "Mainland Affairs Council," said indirect cargo flights between Taiwan and Shanghai could begin on September 25. Only Taiwanese airlines would be allowed to operate the flights.

Pu urged Taiwanese authorities to allow mainland airlines to operate cargo services to Taiwan island, on an equal footing with Taiwanese airlines.

"Airliners from both the mainland and Taiwan should participate in direct flights equally. The mainland calls for two-way direct cargo flights across the Taiwan Straits to save time and expense," he said.

Pu said the China Civil Aviation Association welcomes non-governmental aviation organizations from Taiwan to the mainland for negotiations on direct flights across the Straits.

"It's reasonable for the Chinese airlines to take part in cargo flights across the Taiwan Straits in accordance with aviation practice and the common business principle of fairness," he said.

Transportation links across the Straits were severed after the civil war in 1949. Both sides have said they want to restore the links but the Taiwan authorities have set political preconditions on direct flights.

(China Daily September 16, 2003)