secession law to block Taiwan's separatist movement, and Taiwan plans to launch a new constitution to stress its independence from China. On Friday, China reiterated its call for Taiwan to accept the "one China" policy and warned against Taiwan's seeking independence, but Taiwan asked China to show more goodwill as the pre-condition for improving ties. "The launch of the charter flights does not mean the next thing is to launch a direct air link. It is an important step, and it shows that so long as we can sit down and hold talks, we can put aside differences and reach a consensus," President Chen Shui-bian said while visiting Pacific island state of Palau. Taiwan analysts said the Untied States, the mediator between China and Taiwan, has pushed Beijing and Taipei to agree to launch the charter flights to ease cross-straits tension. On Saturday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement congratulating the launch of the charter flights, saying it was in the interests of both China and Taiwan and would help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. Inspired by the launch of the charter flights, Su Cheng-tian, director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau, urged Taiwan authorities on Saturday to allow international cruise liners to sail directly across the Taiwan Strait. Currently Taiwan requires foreign passengers and cargo ships to stop at a third point before sailing from Taiwan to China or vice versa. Violators of the ban face a fine by Taiwan port authorities.
