Thursday, November 28, 2024
Mainland China urged Taiwan’s DPP to lift restrictions on cross-Strait travel, criticizing policies that hinder tourism and cooperation between the two sides.
A spokesperson from mainland China on Wednesday condemned Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for obstructing efforts to restore normal travel between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.The restrictions imposed by the DPP have raised concerns, particularly as they hinder opportunities for economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, highlighted the detrimental impact of these restrictions on Taiwan’s tourism industry. He emphasized that the current policies directly undermine Taiwan’s ability to attract visitors from the mainland, a crucial market for the island’s tourism sector.
In response to inquiries about Taiwan’s tourism industry expressing a desire to welcome back mainland travelers, Chen called on the DPP authorities to remove obstacles to personnel exchanges and cooperative activities across the Taiwan Strait. He underscored the importance of fostering mutual interaction to revitalize the affected sectors.
The restrictions, which were introduced by the DPP authorities in 2020, included a ban on mainland residents traveling to Taiwan. Furthermore, the policies prohibited Taiwanese travel agencies from organizing group tours to the mainland, significantly limiting cross-Strait engagement.
Chen reiterated that lifting these unilateral measures would not only benefit Taiwan’s tourism sector but also improve broader cross-Strait relations. He urged the DPP to reconsider its stance and work toward re-establishing the free flow of people and cultural exchanges between the two regions.
