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Taiwan to smooth over Dalai's visit

By Xie Yu in Beijing and Cao Li in Shanghai (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-01 08:09

AFP reported about 30 people demonstrated outside the Dalai's hotel Monday, accusing him of politicking.

"The Dalai Lama is only staging a political show here," said the leader of the protesters, members of Taiwan's non-Han aboriginal community.

"If the Dalai Lama really wants to help victims and show respect, he should stay in an aboriginal village, not in a big building like this," he said, pointing towards the hotel.

During his trip to comfort to victims of Typhoon Morakot in south Taiwan, the Dalai Lama is staying in Kaohsiung's Garden Villa, which claims to be the top hotel in Taiwan.

Morakot caused heavy flooding in the south and killed more than 500 people when it struck on Aug 8.

The Dalai Lama, who visited the south Taiwan village of Hsiaolin, where at least 424 people died in a massive typhoon-triggered mudslide in early August, said repeatedly his six-day visit was solely humanitarian.

"My visit is non-political, humanitarian. I have no political agenda," the Dalai Lama told reporters.

More direct flights

Also Monday, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan extended the number of regular cross-Straits direct passenger flights from 108 to 270 a week, a sign that the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to the island is unlikely to spoil warming ties.

Related readings:  Typhoon-affected Taiwanese protest Dalai Lama's visit  Taiwan officials urge Dalai Lama to keep politics out of visit  Dalai visit: Post-disaster farce  Dalai Lama Taiwan tour denounced  Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Taiwan 'resolutely opposed'

Six cities, including Hefei, Harbin, Nanchang, Guiyang, Ningbo and Jinan are joining another 21 mainland cities in operating direct passenger flights to Taiwan, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said Monday.

The previous direct passenger flights were all charter flights. The new services will comprise both regular charter and scheduled flights.

Scheduled direct cargo flights will also be launched between Shanghai and Guangzhou on the mainland and Taoyuan and Kaohsiung.

The mainland and Taiwan began direct air and sea transport links and postal services on Dec. 15 last year. Previously, air and sea connections, including mail, were routed through a third location, usually Hong Kong.

On Nov 4 last year, the mainland and Taiwan agreed to regular direct passenger charter flights across the Taiwan Straits. Before that, flights were only offered on weekends and during the country's four major traditional festivals - Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

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