On Wednesday, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council condemned the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan, accusing them of employing tourism for political manipulation and negatively impacting cross-Straits exchanges.
The criticism follows the cancellation of a plan by the tourism regulator on the island to resume group tours from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland after the Spring Festival.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, highlighted that Taiwan residents have eagerly anticipated the resumption of group tours to the mainland, with the local tourism industry urging the DPP authorities to lift the ban promptly.
Zhu pointed out that since last August, the DPP authorities have consistently claimed to have plans for resumption under certain conditions. The sudden change in plans and contradictory actions will only serve to disappoint Taiwan residents and the tourism industry, as the DPP manipulates tourism for political purposes, according to Zhu.
In contrast to the DPP’s restrictive measures, Chinese mainland authorities announced in May 2023 the resumption of group tours from Taiwan, demonstrating the mainland’s commitment to enhancing cross-Straits commercial and people-to-people exchanges.