Rejection of festival flights 'harms Taiwan people'

Taiwan's rejection of additional flights during Spring Festival harms Taiwan people's rights by obstructing them from returning home for family reunions, a Chinese mainland official said on Wednesday.

"The move is very stupid and unpopular among people," Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference.

He noted that the Taiwan authority is linking additional flights during Spring Festival with the M503 air route, which are two completely unrelated issues.