Taiwan and China began talks Saturday on temporarily lifting the island's five-decade ban on direct flights between the two rivals during next month's Lunar New Year holiday. If the negotiators succeed in reaching an agreement, the deal would be the biggest breakthrough between Taiwan and China in years. It could raise a possible thaw in tensions in one of Asia's most dangerous potential flashpoints. Chinese negotiator Pu Zhaozhou said before the talks started in a hotel in the Chinese territory of Macau that "we hope we can reach a consensus as soon as possible. Up to now, everyone has been very sincere." His Taiwanese counterpart, Billy Chang, also expressed optimism: "My expectation is success." The charter flights would carry hundreds of Taiwanese who work or study in China back home for the weeklong New Year holiday, which begins Feb. 8. The celebration is the year's biggest in ethnic Chinese societies. Taiwanese and Chinese airlines haven't flown direct flights since a bloody civil war split the two sides in 1949. Taiwan has banned direct flights, citing security concerns with China, which has repeatedly threatened to attack. --more 1249 Local Time 0949 GMT
