World Briefing | Asia: Taiwan: First Direct Medical Flight From China
Published: September 15, 2006
A plane evacuating a 71-year-old stroke victim took off for Taiwan from China, the first direct medical flight since the island and the mainland severed ties in 1949. The 100-minute evacuation flight, from Guangzhou to Taipei, stemmed from a June agreement that also called for direct passenger and cargo flights. Taiwan had banned direct air links with China after their split in 1949.