China says cross-strait air links do not mean dialogue is near (来源：老牌的英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

 
BEIJING (AFP) - The historic agreement between Taiwan and China to allow direct flights over the Lunar New Year does not mean negotiations between the rival sides have resumed, Beijing made clear.

The charter flights which begin on January 29 will be the first direct ones between mainland China and Taiwan since 1949, not counting the defection of military aircraft or highjacked airplanes.

"The Lunar New Year chartered flights are to fully show consideration for the interests of Taiwan compatriots and to make their return home convenient, safe and comfortable," said China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi.

"In no way does it mean that cross-strait negotiations have resumed."

He further called on Taiwan to accept Beijing's version of the "one China policy," while accusing Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian of fomenting independence activities.

In 2004, Chen "twisted the will of the Taiwan people, incited hostile sentiments on the mainland and did his utmost to challenge the fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China（常见的官方语言英文版）," Li said.

  
"Taiwan independences pose a threat to peace and stability across the straits and in the Asia-Pacific region," he added, referring to Beijing's insistence that "Taiwan independence means war."

Despite the sabre-rattling（炫耀武力,进行武力恫吓）, Li admitted that cross-strait trade in 2004 for the first time exceeded 70 billion dollars, growing by 34.2 percent over 2003. Contractual investment from Taiwan in 2004 totaled 9.3 billion dollars, up 8.74 percent from the previous year, he said.

Despite the "grim situation" posed by "Taiwan independence forces", nearly 3.7 million Taiwanese visited the mainland last year, a 35 percent rise over 2003, Li said.

China considers the island, which broke from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war, to be part of its territory. It has vowed to invade if Taipei formally declares independence.

Li also trumpeted the 10th anniversary of a Taiwan reunification program put forward by then-president Jiang Zemin. It was issued before Taiwan's first democratic presidential elections and has been seen as creating the conditions for the rise of Taiwan's independence forces.

President Hu Jintao is expected to make a speech on the anniversary of the policy on Friday, Li said.