Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08SHANGHAI256, COUNTDOWN TO CROSS-STRAIT FLIGHTS: VIEW FROM SHANGHAI

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08SHANGHAI256.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08SHANGHAI256 2008-07-03 02:44 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Shanghai
R 030244Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6964
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMCONSUL HONG KONG 
AMCONSUL CHENGDU 
AMCONSUL SHENYANG 
AIT TAIPEI 1094
AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
AMCONSUL SHANGHAI
UNCLAS SHANGHAI 000256 
 
TRANSPORTATION FOR OFFICE OF AVIATION AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (X-50); 
USDOC FOR DAS KASOFF, MELCHER, MAC/OCEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR PREL ECON SOCI CH TW
SUBJECT: COUNTDOWN TO CROSS-STRAIT FLIGHTS: VIEW FROM SHANGHAI 
 
(U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified and for official 
use only.  Not for distribution outside of USG channels or via 
the internet. 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Shanghai is watching closely as China and 
Taiwan prepare to implement a recently negotiated agreement 
launching weekend cross-Strait charter flights and opening 
Taiwan to Mainland tourists.  Local travel companies Shanghai 
Airlines and Shanghai CYTS Tours seem positive on the 
opportunity to offer improved travel options and hopeful that 
initial successes may translate into significant future profits. 
 Despite numerous restrictions on Mainland travelers and likely 
competition for seats from the Taiwan business community, the 
chance to visit Taiwan appears to be generating some interest 
among average Chinese citizens.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------- 
BACKGROUND 
----------- 
 
2.  (SBU) On June 12, Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) 
and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait 
(ARATS) reached consensus on launching weekend charter flights 
on July 4 and opening Taiwan to Mainland tourists on July 18. 
The Chinese cities participating in the flight arrangement will 
include Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Nanjing, and Guangzhou.  In 
Shanghai, Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern Airlines will 
operate the Taiwan-bound flights.  On June 26, Econoffs and Econ 
FSN met with Yu Heng, Director for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao 
Affairs at Shanghai Airlines, who provided an upbeat assessment 
of his company's logistical preparations for the cross-Strait 
flights and expectations for the program's future.  (China 
Eastern, a partially state-owned firm, declined to speak with 
ConGenOffs.)  Separately, Econ FSN spoke with Jinjiang Travel 
and Shanghai CYTS Tours, the two major travel agencies in 
Shanghai handling Taiwan tours. 
 
------------------- 
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF 
------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) Yu confirmed that Shanghai Airlines' charter flights 
between Shanghai and Taipei will commence July 4, and eventually 
total 18 round-trip flights, Friday through Monday, per weekend. 
 All will depart from Pudong International Airport, selected 
over Hongqiao Airport for its capacity to accommodate the 
additional traffic.  Initially, the majority of the flights will 
land at Taipei's Songshan Airport, although nearby Taoyuan 
International Airport may play a larger role in the future. 
 
4.  (SBU) Yu noted that logistics cooperation between the two 
sides has been relatively smooth.  Both pilots and crew have 
been able to obtain necessary visas through a special channel. 
Meanwhile, Shanghai Airlines and Taiwan's EVA Air have agreed to 
provide landing and technical assistance to the other's arriving 
flights at Pudong and Songshan/Taoyuan Airports, respectively. 
While EVA Air lacks representation at Pudong, Shanghai Airlines 
has a representative at Songshan to facilitate the arrangement 
and is negotiating with EVA Air to have another assigned to 
Taoyuan. 
 
5.  (SBU) Though the Taipei-bound flights no longer need to land 
in Hong Kong, they must still traverse Hong Kong air space, 
bringing total travel time to approximately 2 hours and 45 
minutes.  Yu optimistically expects negotiations between Chinese 
and Taiwan authorities will result in a direct air route within 
a few months, reducing flying time to a mere 70 minutes. 
 
--------------- 
SALES ARE BRISK 
--------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Yu reported strong sales, with 90 percent of seats on 
Shanghai Airlines' flights already taken.  The company is 
charging RMB 3700 (USD 540) for individual roundtrip tickets and 
RMB 2600 (USD 380) and up for group tickets offered through tour 
packages.  As things stand, individual travel is more difficult 
to arrange, requiring approval from both Taiwan and Mainland 
authorities as well as a Taiwan-issued tourist visa.  Still, the 
majority of sales have been to individual customers from the 
Taiwan business community in Mainland China.  This is largely 
because, with the exception of an inaugural tour that leaves 
July 4, Mainland tours to Taiwan will not begin until July 18. 
Additionally, China Eastern is positioning itself to take a 
greater share of the tour group market.  Shanghai Airlines 
expects increased demand from Mainland residents after more 
tours begin, and hopes scheduled flights might constitute the 
next stage of cross-Strait travel agreements, perhaps after the 
Olympics.  Yu did not have a clear sense of foreign passenger 
interest in the charter flights.  It is his understanding, Yu 
stated, that foreign passengers are eligible to fly on the 
cross-Strait charter flights, but the company has not received 
clear guidance on this from the government. 
 
---------------------- 
HEALTHY TOURIST DEMAND 
---------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) In separate conversations, Econ FSN spoke with local 
travel agencies to discuss application procedures and gauge 
interest in Taiwan travel.  Jinjiang Travel is currently taking 
reservations for trips beginning July 18, but has not finalized 
the details for the tour packages it will offer.  Shanghai CYTS 
Tours, on the other hand, will send the first all-Taiwan tour to 
Taipei on July 4, and is offering 8 day (RMB 8800, or USD 1282) 
and 10 day (RMB 12880, or USD 1876) packages.  Shanghai CYTS 
reported that bookings for its Taiwan tours have been better 
than expected.  The majority of participants are senior 
citizens, which the agency attributes to a curiosity or affinity 
toward Taiwan resulting from years of Mainland Cold War 
mentality. 
 
8.  (SBU) A number of regulations govern Chinese eligibility and 
behavior during travel to Taiwan.  Chinese from 13 provinces may 
take advantage of the program, but must hold a hukou permit as 
proof of residency in those 13 provinces.  Applicants are 
required to submit copies of their permit and personal ID card, 
a certificate of employment, detailed background information, 
and three photos.  Agencies are barring Chinese with "political 
issues" and government employees from participating, the latter 
restriction to encourage ordinary citizens to travel to Taiwan. 
Tourists will be required to put down a deposit -- likely to be 
a whopping RMB 50,000 (USD 7283) -- refundable on their return 
to China, though this requirement has been waived for July 4 
tour participants.  Tourists must remain with their tour group 
for the duration of the trip. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
9.  (SBU) Despite the travel restrictions and likely competition 
for seats from the Taiwan business community, the chance to 
visit Taiwan appears to be generating some Mainland interest. 
Shanghai Airlines and Shanghai CYTS Tours, on the whole, seem 
positive on the opportunity to offer improved travel options and 
expanded Taiwan tourism, and hopeful that initial successes 
might translate into bigger profits in the future. 
 
JARRETT