Accordi Cina-Taiwan sui collegamenti aerei, marittimi e postali

Stamani a Taipei si sono incontrati per la prima volta i rappresentanti dei due principali organismi della Repubblica Popolare Cinese e della Repubblica della Cina Nazionale per i negoziati tra le due nazioni, che si erano interrotti per più di dieci anni. Il presidente della cinese Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), Chen Yunlin, ha incontrato il presidente della taiwanese Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Chiang Pin-kung, per sottoscrivere accordi sull'istituzione di collegamenti aerei, marittimi e postali diretti tra la Cina continentale e l'isola di Taiwan e sulla sicurezza alimentare e per discutere della normalizzazione dei rapporti economici e finanziari tra le due nazioni.

«Riteniamo - ha commentato Chen - che, con gli sforzi di entrambe le parti, i collegamenti diretti di trasporto e i servizi postali che i compatrioti di entrambe le parti hanno atteso per oltre trent'anni diventeranno una realtà».

Gli accordi, di cui riportiamo di seguito un sunto relativo ai collegamenti aerei e marittimi, prevedono tra l'altro la possibilità di avviare servizi via mare diretti tra 11 porti taiwanesi e 48 porti marittimi e 15 fluviali cinesi e di accrescere a 108 i voli charter diretti settimanali, rispetto ai 36 voli settimanali concordati lo scorso giugno, nonché di consentire i voli privati tra le due nazioni.


Explanation concerning Cross-Strait Sea Transport Agreement

- The Results of the Second Chiang-Chen Meeting (Sea Transport)

Mainland Affairs Council

The signing of the Cross-Strait Sea Transport Agreement between the SEF and ARATS on November 4 has achieved the following major breakthroughs in cross-strait sea transport:
Explanation concerning Cross-Strait Sea Transport Agreement

- The Results of the Second Chiang-Chen Meeting (Sea Transport)

Mainland Affairs Council

The signing of the Cross-Strait Sea Transport Agreement between the SEF and ARATS on November 4 has achieved the following major breakthroughs in cross-strait sea transport:

Cross-strait vessels as the main force in direct transport
1. Vessels registered in the ownership of shipping companies on the two sides of the strait can engage in direct cross-strait transport of passengers and cargo.
2. Vessels owned by companies on either side of the strait and registered in Hong Kong can similarly engage in direct cross-strait transport of passengers and cargo.
3. Flag-of-convenience vessels owned by shipping companies on either side of the strait and that are currently already engaging in offshore shipping center transport, cross-strait third-territory container line transport, and sand and gravel transport, also can participate in direct cross-strait transport of passengers and cargo.

Broad opening of ports
1. Taiwan will open 11 ports, namely: the six ports of Keelung (including Taipei), Kaohsiung (including Anping), Taichung, Hualien, Mailiao and Budai (initially to be carried out on a special case basis) and the five “small three links” ports of Liaoluo and Shueitou on Kinmen, Fuao and Baisha on Matsu, and Magong on Penghu.
2. The mainland will open 48 seaports and 15 river ports, for a total of 63 ports, listed as follows: the 48 seaports of Dandong, Dalian, Yingkou, Tangshan, Jinzhou, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Huanghua, Weihai, Yantai, Longkou, Lanshan, Rizhao, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Dafeng, Shanghai, Ningpo, Danshan, Taizhou, Jiaxing, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Songxia, Ningde, Quanzhou, Xiaocuo, Xiuyu, Zhangzhou, Xiamen, Shantou, Chaozhou, Huizhou, Shekou, Yantian, Chiwan, Mawan, Humen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Maoming, Zhanjiang, Beihai, Fangcheng, Qinzhou, Haikou, Sanya and Yangpu, and the 15 river ports of Taicang, Nantong, Zhangjiagang, Jiangyang, Yangzhou, Changshou, Changzhou, Taizhou, Zhenjiang, Nanjing, Yanhu, Ma’anshan, Jiujiang, Wuhan and Chenglingji.

Putting aside disputes, temporarily not displaying flags

Having discussed the problem of flag display by vessels registered on either side of the Taiwan Strait in the spirit of putting aside disputes, the two sides have agreed to observe the relevant arrangements made in the Taiwan-Hong Kong Shipping Negotiations in 1997, with vessels registered on either side abstaining from flying their flag on the stern or mainmast of the vessel between entering and leaving the other side’s ports, but flying additional company flags for vessel identification.

Transport capacity arrangements, equal participation

The two sides’ operation of direct cross-strait passenger and cargo transport will be based on the principles of equal participation and orderly competition, with rational arrangement of transport capacity.

Mutual tax exemption, to lower costs

The two sides will mutually exempt each other’s shipping companies from the payment of business and income tax on revenue derived from participation in cross-strait shipping.

Mutual establishment of entities to facilitate operations

The two sides’ shipping companies may establish offices or business entities on each other’s side of the strait to facilitate the development of transport service related business.

Cooperation in disaster rescue for safety protection

The establishment of a sea disaster search and rescue liaison and cooperation mechanism, to jointly protect the safety of life, property and the environment at sea. When an accident occurs at sea, the two sides, in addition to promptly notifying each other, will promptly undertake rescue and assistance in accordance with the principles of proximity and convenience.

Explanation concerning Cross-Strait Air Transport Agreement

- The Results of the Second Chiang-Chen Meeting (Air Transport)

Mainland Affairs Council

The signing of the Cross-Strait Air Transport Agreement between the SEF and ARATS on November 4 has achieved the following major breakthroughs in cross-strait air transport:

Direct flight path in both directions
1. The two sides have agreed to open a direct two-way flight path in a northern line across the Taiwan Strait. In the future, cross-strait flights will follow the current international airway B576 from BERBA point toward the west, and after passing an air traffic control handover point agreed by both sides (27°26'20" E122°25'19"), will transition to an inland flight point at Dongshan in the mainland. This flight path involves direct handover between the air traffic control departments on either side of the Taiwan Strait, and can be used in both directions to achieve the goals of saving time and money.
2. The two sides agree to continue consultations on opening a direct two-way flight path in a southern line across the Taiwan Strait, as well as other more convenient flight paths.

Weekday charters, and increasing the flight schedule and flight points
1. Weekend charters will be adjusted to normalized 7-days-a-week charters.
2. Flight points
  1. Taiwan will continue to use 8 flight points, namely: Taoyuan, Kaohsiung (Siaogang), Taichung (Chingchunkang), Taipei (Sungshan), Penghu, (Makung), Hualien, Kinmen and Taitung.
  2. Mainland flight points will be increased to 21, including the existing 5 flight points of Beijing, Shanghai (Pudong), Guangzhou, Xiamen and Nanjing, plus the 16 additional flight points of Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Dalian, Guilin, Shenzhun, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Changsha, Haikou, Kunming, Xian, Shenyang, Tianjin and Zhengzhou.
3. Number of flights
  1. The two sides will operate a total of 108 round-trip flights per week, with each side operating 54 round-trip flights. (Currently, the two sides are operating a total of 36 round-trip flights per week.)
  2. Taiwan carriers will operate up to 20 round-trip flights per week to Shanghai (Pudong). (Currently, such flights are limited to 9 per week.)
  3. Flights may in the future be increased or reduced at appropriate times according to market demand.

Cargo charters, collaborative operation
1. The two sides agree to open regular cargo charter services, with each designating two or three air carriers to operate them.
2. Flight points
  1. In Taiwan: Taoyuan and Kaohsiung (Siaogang).
  2. In the mainland: Shanghai (Pudong) and Guangzhou (Baiyun).
3. Number of flights
  The two sides will operate a total of 60 round-trip flights per month, with each side operating 30 round-trip flights:
  1. The two sides will each month each operate 15 round-trip flights to and from Shanghai (Pudong) and 15 round-trip flights to and from Guangzhou, for a total of 30 round-trip flights each.
  2. Every year in the peak cargo shipment season of October and November, the two sides may each operate an additional 15 round-trip flights.
4. The two sides’ air carriers will adopt a commercial cooperation mode of operation.

Regular flights can be expected soon

The two sides agree to do the utmost possible to make arrangements for regular passenger and cargo flights within six months of the implementation of this agreement.

Business charters, direct cross-strait flight

The two sides agree to the opening of non-commercial business charter flights.