Flights Canceled: 50,000 people from Taiwan stranded on Chinese mainland

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Nearly 50-thousand people are stranded on the Chinese mainland after Taiwan civil aviation authorities canceled some 170 cross-strait flights ahead of the Spring Festival. CGTN's Li Jianhua earlier talked to some of those affected, who might not be able to go back home for China's most important holiday.

For some people from Taiwan, this could be a VERY cold winter as more than 170 extra cross-strait flights were canceled this Tuesday.

MA XIAOGUANG, SPOKESPERSON TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL "Taiwan authorities used as an excuse that China Eastern airlines and Xiamen airlines are using the M503 flight route to obstruct the operation of the extra 176 cross-strait flights. This is totally against the will of the people across the Taiwan Straits."

The two Chinese mainland airlines had no choice. China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines have announced they would offer full refunds or help with ticket changes. But this means most of them have to pay more, even double the initial cost.

DR. ZHANG YUYING SHANGHAI RUIDONG HOSPITAL "It's a red-eye flight. And I have to work right after I come back to Shanghai at night. It's a lot of money for me, to be honest. I never knew I had to spend so much money going back to Taiwan."

Some are worried that going back to Taiwan would be much more difficult in the future.

DONG YANLIANG DOCTORAL STUDENT "We're worried regular flights will be canceled in the future. We'll have to transit from Hong Kong to Taiwan, like many years ago. What we're worried about more is this: maybe transferring from Hong Kong might not even be possible in the future."

Chinese authorities promise to take care of those who cannot make their way back home.

MA XIAOGUANG, SPOKESPERSON TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL "We will do what it takes to help those stranded on the mainland to go back home. And for those who are not able to go back and have to stay on the mainland for the spring festival, we will make sure they are well taken care of here."

Many who are stranded are grateful for that.

QIU RONGLI NIETZSCHE INT'L EDUCATION INSTITUTE "The mainland authorities are treating us like family. They don't want to leave their family, relatives or friends out there in the streets. Taiwan authorities are making such a simple thing so complicated. What we want is simple - we just want to go back home safely."

LI JIANHUA SHANGHAI "Now we are looking at a figure of 50,000 - that's not simply about 50,000 individuals, but 50,000 households. With the most important family gathering just two weeks away, these people still don't know what to do next. Li Jianhua, CGTN, Shanghai."