Making Progress Towards "San Tong"

New York Times published a short article reporting on recent talks between mainland China and Taiwan about expanded travel and trade agreements: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/world/asia/05taiwan.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin


...The new transportation agreement raises to 108 from 36 the number of weekly round-trip charter flights, according to a summary of the agreement posted on a Web site run by the Taiwanese government. The flights are expected to run daily, with 21 cities on the mainland and eight in Taiwan receiving service.

The planes will also fly in a direct line between cities over a route north of Taiwan. Charter flights between China and Taiwan currently take a longer route through Hong Kong airspace because of security concerns.

Under the new routing, direct flights between Taipei and Beijing will take two hours, and flights between Taipei and Shanghai will take 80 minutes....

Personally, I think this is great! I have close relatives in both Shanghai and Taiwan- easier travel and communication between the two cities will finally reunite my family. However, these agreements have very strong implication for Taiwan's future and international status. It's not just direct flights to China, but these flights are being directed through Taiwan's "domestic" airports- flying to China is no longer considered an international flight. What do these agreements mean for China and Taiwan's future?

Eva Luo '08