Taiwan's mainland travel plans slammed as 'deception'

Taiwan's plan to loosen restrictions on mainland business and group travelers to the island will in reality result in more restrictions on cross-Strait tourism, a spokesperson for the Chinese mainland said on Friday.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks after the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan announced on Thursday a plan to allow some travel from the mainland, which has been halted since 2019.

"It is absurd that the DPP is now seeking to control the number of cross-Strait tourists based on the so-called principle of reciprocity, and is demanding to establish a mechanism to regulate the number of tourists going to the mainland," she said.

According to the plan, from Monday business people from the mainland will be allowed to apply for short-term visits for events such as exhibitions. From Sept 1, mainland residents can apply to enter Taiwan from a location outside the mainland.

The island said it would allow mainland tour groups to visit the island, with an initial daily cap of 2,000 visitors. However, a specific date for the resumption of group tours was not provided. Taiwan tour groups can also travel to the mainland, with an initial limit of 2,000, based on reciprocity, the island said.

In May, the mainland announced the resumption of tour groups from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland. However, such tours have been blocked by island authorities, and currently only individuals from Taiwan can travel to the mainland.

Zhu said the DPP's "so-called plan" lacks a clear implementation date and in reality is a tightening of restrictions by setting unprecedented controls on cross-Strait tours.

The mainland has always welcomed Taiwan compatriots for tourism without any limit on the number of visitors. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, several million trips from Taiwan to the mainland for exchanges and tourism were made each year, she said.

"For over 30 years, Taiwan people have had no barriers to travel to the mainland. Why is the DPP now so afraid of Taiwan people visiting the mainland?" she asked.

She said the DPP is attempting to shift blame and avoid responsibility for it banning Taiwan people from participating in group tours to the mainland, but this effort is futile.

"The desire for communication, cooperation, peace, and development is shared by the vast majority of Taiwan people," she said.

Zhu said the DPP's attempt to deceive and cover up the true nature of its obstruction of interactions between various sectors in Taiwan and the mainland through this "so-called plan" will be seen through by the people of Taiwan.

She called on compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together to promote the return of cross-Strait relations to peaceful development and achieve normal tourism and exchanges.