Taiwan’s reaction to KMT legislator’s visit to Taiwan is mixed
China News Service, Taipei, April 29 (Xinhua) — The visit to China by opposition Kuomintang lawmakers led by Legislative Yuan caucus whip Fu Kunqi has aroused different views in Taiwan. Some people are worried about Beijing’s political conspiracy, while others believe it is a gesture from China. of goodwill.
From April 26 to 28, Fu Ying led 16 other Kuomintang congressmen to Beijing and met with senior Chinese officials. He called the visit an “ice-breaking trip” to facilitate the entry of Chinese tourists into Taiwan.
However, Ke Jianming, the Democratic Progressive Party’s Legislative Yuan caucus whip, said that the visit was a well-planned and long-premeditated political drama, and that criticizing the benefits provided by the Chinese government was a trap designed to destroy it.
The benefits Kerr mentioned were several measures announced by China during Fu’s three-day trip, including the resumption of direct flights between Taiwan and 30 major cities in China and the expansion of Taiwan’s agricultural and fishery products’ access to the Chinese market.
Kerr said that cross-strait tourism was initially obstructed by the Chinese government. This was a matter for negotiation between the two countries and was not a problem that could be solved by a few people.
Speaking about the Chinese authorities’ decision on April 28, Transportation Minister Wang Guocai said that while it is encouraging to see China expressing goodwill and taking positive actions, the degree of opening is far less than expected to allow tourists from Fujian Province to visit the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands.
The person in charge of Taiwan’s tourism industry authority said that three years ago, residents of all provinces in China were able to travel to Taiwan, and residents of 47 cities were not required to participate in group tours.
Travel links between Taiwan and China have been largely frozen for the past three years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
China stopped free travel to Taiwan on August 1, 2019, citing the poor state of cross-strait relations. Subsequently, group travel to Taiwan in 2020 was suspended.
April 29: Kuomintang caucus whip touts tourism’s victory after China’s “ice-breaking tour”
Xu Guanze, deputy secretary-general of the think tank Taiwan Economic Democracy Alliance, said China’s strategy is to first partially block cross-strait trade and cut off economic ties, and then reopen cross-strait trade through intermediaries that support the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
Hsu added that this sends a message to Taiwanese that only those who adhere to the “one-China” policy will benefit.
After setting preconditions for some measures, China’s next step will be to actively seek responses from the Taiwanese government, Xu said.
He added that these preconditions include allowing groups of Fujian residents to travel to Taiwan only after direct sea transportation from Pingtan County in China’s Fujian Province to Taiwan is restored.
Straits Economic and Cultural Interchange Association Secretary-General Teng Tai-hsien said that over the past eight years under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, cross-strait relations have faced obstacles due to political factors and the Pandemic.
He believes that China’s announcement of measures against Taiwan is a goodwill gesture, and pointed out that if President-elect Lai Ching-te can respond in his inauguration speech on May 20, Beijing will be able to understand the new government’s goodwill.
Teng added that this is an opportunity to improve cross-strait relations.
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