TAIPEI, March 9 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government said on Thursday it would allow the resumption of more direct flights to China that had been stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a show of political goodwill to Beijing despite festering military tensions.
Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, currently allows direct flights to only four Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xiamen - but before the pandemic multiple Chinese cities were connected to the island.
China has been pressing Taiwan to resume the flights, urging against using the pandemic as an excuse for further delay.
"We also hope to build on the foundation of these resumed flights to gradually increase the exchange of goodwill gestures and cooperative interactions by both sides."
Taiwan and China began regular direct flights to each other in 2009, after beginning charter flights in 2003.