Implications for Future Cross-Strait Air Transportation Services
ISSUES & STUDIES Issues & Studies© 38, no. 2 (June 2002): 148-176. Bilateral Air Service Agreements within the Greater China Area: Implications for Future Cross-Strait Air Transportation Services ZHENG-YI SHON Direct flights across the Taiwan Strait have been the hottest issue in cross-Strait relations since the 1980s. Although Taiwan's policy toward di- rect flights is not yet clear, many believe that the entry of both sides into the World Trade Organization (WTO) will speed up the flight schedule process. There are, however, some technical problems to be solved before the air- lines of either side can operate nonstop flights across the Strait. One criti- cal issue regards the striking of a bilateral agreement between China and Taiwan. If both sides agree to negotiate such an official document, serious political and economic conflicts would likely occur as soon as negotiations are begun. This paper discusses the history of air transportation services among Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. Past and new agreements are examined, their impacts and possible influences on the regional markets are analyzed, and both the business and political considerations related to these agreements are explored. Given the experiences of both past and © Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan (ROC). Zheng-Yi Shon (熊正一) (Ph.D. in transportation and communication management, Na- tional Chengkung University, Taiwan, 1999) is currently Associate Professor and Chairman of the departments of Business Administration and International Trade, Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages (文藻外國語文學院), Kaohsiung, Taiwan. His research interests in- clude air transportation, mainland China's economy, and strategic management, and he has published over twenty research papers on direct flights issues.
[Show full text]