Taiwan ready to talk with RP on new air ties

Taiwanese officials are ready to talk with their Philippine counterparts for a new bilateral air service agreement, Taipei's chief representative in Manila said yesterday.

Meanwhile, President Estrada denied allegations that the government has been too protective of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) in its negotiations for a new air accord with Taipei.

Appearing at a congressional hearing on the current air service dispute between the two countries, Taipei representative Chan Shien Ching denied reports that they refused to talk with Philippine commercial aviation officials.

"We are ready to talk, and we would like flights to resume as soon as possible," Chan said.

He stressed that an air agreement between his country and the Philippines is vital for traders, investors and tourists, as well as for good bilateral relations.

Chan's statements of cooperation came a few days after Transportation and Communications Secretary Vicente Rivera, concurrent head of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), said the initiative to negotiate a new air treaty should come from Taipei.

Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr. and Rivera said Chan's remarks reflected Taiwan's "positive attitude."

Direct commercial flights between Manila and Taipei were suspended last week after the two sides traded accusations about violations of their air service agreement.

Siazon said both parties should let bygones be bygones and instead focus on the future.

"We should not look at the past. If we do that, there will only be finger-pointing. We should look to the future," he said.

He also expressed optimism that a mutually acceptable settlement of the dispute would eventually be forged between the two countries.

Siazon pointed out, however, that there should be more time to allow emotions to settle down before new negotiations start.

In his remarks before the three House committees looking into the fiasco, Chan insisted that Taiwanese carriers have always complied with their part of the agreement, and claimed that the Philippines unilaterally suspended it without giving his government prior notice.

Chan cited as example the case of a Taiwanese cargo carrier which left Taipei on the day flights were suspended, and was refused entry into Philippine air space.

During the hearing, opposition Rep. Oscar Moreno asked Siazon and Rivera if there was an official policy to protect PAL, the country's flag carrier.

Siazon gave a negative reply, adding that Philippine negotiators always try to get the maximum benefits for the country and its carriers, regardless of the owner.

Moreno noted that Philippine officials were evidently protecting PAL because its owner, Lucio Tan, is a close ally of the President.

Mr. Estrada, in his weekly radio and television program, clarified that it was merely coincidental that Tan was the majority holder of PAL.

"We were just protecting our own flag carrier, but they (critics) were already putting some political color to it," Mr. Estrada lamented.

He charged that China Airlines (CAL) had engaged in unfair trade practice by drastically reducing its fare between Manila and Taipei, saying the scheme virtually robs PAL of its fair share of passenger traffic. -- With Marichu Villanueva, Rey Arquiza