China opens new route near the midline of the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan sees threat following Lai Ching-de’s election
In response to the cancellation of tourism, which had been announced to ‘resume in March’
China protests against using tourism to ridicule politics… Protests predicted for Taiwan’s tourism industry due to “big losses”
Taiwan suddenly withdrew its plan to fully resume group tourism to China for its citizens starting in March. This is an issue that Taiwan first tried to resolve as a gesture of reconciliation toward China after group tours between both sides of the Strait (China and Taiwan) were mutually suspended due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) incident. The Taiwanese government explained on the 7th, “This is because China has taken malicious measures to unilaterally adjust civil routes passing over the Taiwan Strait, which has posed a security threat.” The cross-strait conflict appears to be intensifying after China objected, saying, “Taiwan’s ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party, is using Chinese tourism for political ridicule.”
According to Taiwanese media, including Lian Hebo, Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation announced on this day, “We are withdrawing our plan to allow group tours to China from March 1,” and “travel companies must stop recruiting any more tourists.” However, he added that travel agencies will allow group tours from March to May if they receive reservations with the resumption of group tours in mind. If Taiwan’s government follows its policy, group tours to China will be halted again starting in June.
Mutual group tourism between China and Taiwan has been a topic of ongoing controversy in recent years. The beginning was China. In August 2019, China began to ban travel to Taiwan due to cross-Strait relations. The following year, in 2020, both countries banned it due to the spread of COVID-19.
In August of last year, China fully permitted group tours of its citizens to 78 countries, including Korea, the United States, and Japan, but excluded Taiwan. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation preemptively announced in November last year that it would “resume group tours to China from March 2024.” Immediately after the presidential election in January, Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation, Wang Kuo-chai, reaffirmed the reopening policy, saying, “Recovery will begin on March 1.”
However, the Ministry of Transportation withdrew its policy that day and it became a thing that never happened. Taiwan’s tourism industry is in a state of confusion. An industry official complained, “If you cancel your travel schedule for the summer peak season after June, you will incur a huge loss.” Director Wang said, “As this is an important situation, we ask for your cooperation.”
There are two reasons why the Taiwanese government suddenly withdrew its policy to resume group tourism. First of all, despite Taiwan’s reconciliation gesture, China still does not allow group tours to Taiwan. The second is more direct. This is a retaliatory measure for China’s recent unilateral adjustment of the Taiwan Strait civil route (M503).
The M503 route is only 7.8km from the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which is intended to prevent cross-strait military conflict. Even when China declared the opening of the route in 2015, Taiwan strongly opposed it, saying, “military conflict could break out.” In the end, both sides agreed to operate on a route 6 nautical miles (approximately 11 km) biased toward China rather than the M503 route.
However, on the 30th of last month, the Civil Aviation Administration of China suddenly announced, “Starting from the 1st of this month, we will cancel the compromise measures for the M503 route,” and “We will use the M503 route as well as the W122 and W123 routes that connect east and west.” There are concerns about conflict between Chinese and Taiwanese civil aircraft over the opening of a new route, as well as the possibility that it will be used as a route for military aircraft to invade Taiwan. Taiwan was outraged by the unilateral cancellation of the agreement, saying, “When the current Vice President Lai Ching-de, who is pro-American and independent, was elected in the presidential election on the 13th of last month, China came out to threaten Taiwan.”
China opposed Taiwan’s withdrawal of group tours. Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮), spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, criticized, “The announcement of the reopening plan last year was a political trick,” and “It hinders exchanges and undermines the welfare of compatriots on both sides of the Strait.”
Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, which is pro-Beijing, sees it as a ‘political card’ that will turn around the turbulent atmosphere after losing the presidential election. The National Party held a press conference with the tourism industry on the 8th and said, “If we do not receive a reasonable explanation from the government, we will take to the streets and protest on May 20th, when the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony is scheduled.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.