Taiwan Limits Cross-Strait Mutual Tourism Until March Next Year... 'Concerns Over China's Election Interference'

Taiwan authorities have confirmed their position to resume group tours between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait (China and Taiwan) in March next year, while not allowing Chinese group tours until the presidential election in January next year.

Taiwanese soldiers lowering the flag at the flagpole in Taipei Liberty Square. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Wang Guocai, Taiwan's Minister of Transportation, announced on the 3rd that "group tours for Taiwanese to mainland China and for Chinese to Taiwan will be allowed starting March 1 next year." He added, "We will announce the lifting of the ban on cross-strait group tours before the Lunar New Year (February 10)," and "the travel industry will be able to prepare for group tour operations before March."

This confirms the stance that group tours between the two sides will not be permitted until before the Taiwan presidential and legislative (parliamentary) elections scheduled for January 13 next year. Earlier in September, Taiwanese media such as Liberty Times reported that Taiwan authorities would not resume cross-strait group tours before the election next year. This is analyzed as an attempt to block the Chinese authorities, who aim to send a large number of Chinese tourists to Taiwan to create a pro-China atmosphere in the presidential election, thereby preventing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from regaining power.

Taiwan authorities have claimed that China is making various attempts to interfere in next year's presidential election.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, group tours between the two sides have been suspended and have not resumed. China reopened its borders earlier this year after three years of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed Taiwanese group tours to mainland China, but has not permitted Chinese group tours to Taiwan.

Taiwan has also maintained its stance of not allowing cross-strait group tours since 2020. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s agency responsible for mainland China affairs, announced in August a plan to resume cross-strait group tours limiting daily mutual visitors to 2,000 based on the "principle of equality," but it has not been implemented.

Xiao Borun, chairman of the Taiwan Travel Industry Association, said, "The Taiwan travel industry has expected that cross-strait group tours will not resume before the presidential election," but added, "However, if China shows a favorable attitude, there is a possibility of resuming even before March."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.