Beijing pledges to lift curbs on Taiwan travel but waits for cue from William Lai

by

Travel between the island and the mainland has become increasingly limited since 2019, as tensions across the strait have triggered restrictions.

“We sincerely invite Taiwan compatriots to visit the mainland more often, and we are also happy to see people from the mainland visit the precious island of our motherland,” Xi said, adding that the exchanges could “promote trust and forge close bonds of hearts and minds.” between the two sides.

Citing Xi’s message, Zhu said exchanges would have “bright prospects” despite “man-made obstacles” — a reference to travel restrictions imposed by Taipei authorities.

‘Sell to spend’: Taiwan’s tourism sector misses the mainland as the ban persists

According to Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean of Xiamen University’s graduate institute for Taiwan studies, the resumption of travel will depend on “the policy of Taiwan authorities” after Lai’s inauguration as the next head of the island on May 20.

Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party who once called himself a “pragmatic independence worker,” won Taiwan’s presidential election in January. Beijing labeled it a “troublemaker”.

Lai said his new government will manage cross-Strait relations “in a rational and prudent manner” and maintain the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait. He made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday.

Beijing will pay close attention to Lai’s inauguration speech, which is expected to outline the new government’s basic policies, including its approach to cross-strait issues.

Taiwan’s president-elect invites Beijing to join party-to-party talks

Cross-strait tourism has typically reflected the ups and downs in relations between the island and mainland China.

In July 2008, after Ma of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang became president of the island, mainland tour groups were allowed to visit Taiwan for the first time since China’s civil war.

Individual mainland Chinese tourists were allowed to travel to the island in 2011, with the number of cities allowing individual visits gradually expanding to 47 by 2015.

However, cross-Strait relations subsequently soured Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP became president in 2016. Beijing suspended travel to the island by individual mainland tourists in 2019.

In early 2020, Taiwan suspended the arrivals of all visitors, including those from mainland China, as part of its Covid-19 prevention measures.

In October 2022, the island lifted pandemic travel restrictions on visitors – except those from mainland China.

01:41

Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou calls on both sides of Taiwan Strait to ‘avoid war’

Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou calls on both sides of Taiwan Strait to ‘avoid war’

In another step in Taiwan’s gradual reopening, mainland Chinese living or studying overseas were allowed to travel to the island starting in September, while mainland-based tourists were barred.

Taiwan authorities said in November they would lift restrictions on Taiwanese group tours to the mainland after Beijing authorities gave them permission last May.

But Taipei went back on its plans to reopen in February.

It suspended the process for Taiwanese travelers to join group tours in mainland China, except for those with trips scheduled between March and May, citing Beijing’s refusal to reciprocate by allowing mainland tour groups to visit Taiwan.

Mainland China was once the largest source of inbound tourists to Taiwan, with the number of more than 2.7 million in 2019, accounting for 23 percent of the total.

The number of mainland tourists visiting the island fell to just over 220,000 in 2023, according to data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Leave a Comment