The Mainland Affairs Council announced on Wednesday that Taiwan and China are moving towards restoring direct flights that were suspended between the two sides due to the pandemic.  The Mainland Affairs Council is Taiwan’s main China policymaking body.

In a press conference on Wednesday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that the pandemic is already under control and that people and airlines on both sides of the strait want to resume cross-strait flights. It said it contacted Taiwan authorities on February 1 about moving towards the resumption of flights.

Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration received suggestions from Chinese authorities for the two sides to assess and evaluate the COVID-19 epidemic situation on both sides under the cross-strait air transport agreement. 

The council says government policy is to resume cross-strait exchanges as long as the pandemic is under control. Authorities are evaluating the epidemic situation and related developments. The Civil Aeronautics Administration says it will communicate with China in a timely manner.