Amid tensions, Taiwanese leader seeks ease in tourism with China

ISTANBUL

The two sides across the Taiwan Strait have called for increased exchanges amid tensions between Beijing and Taipei.

A senior Chinese official said Thursday that Beijing will make efforts to “continue expanding exchanges and cooperation” with Taiwan to “promote integrated development across the Strait,” state media reported.

The statement from Beijing came after Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te on Wednesday urged China to negotiate with Taipei to ease tourism restrictions.

“The real barrier to cross-strait exchanges is actually China, not Taiwan,” Lai had said, referring to alleged restrictions by Beijing on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan a “breakaway province,” while Taipei has maintained its independence since 1949.

“Effective efforts were made last year to deter separatists and external forces attempting to interfere, thereby maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait while safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Song Tao, who leads the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Beijing.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait have increased since Lai was inaugurated last May after he won presidential elections in January last year.

China has held large-scale drills around the island nation, which Beijing says deters “independence forces” in Taiwan.

According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Taipei detected 22 Chinese military aircraft around the island on Thursday.

“If China is genuinely sincere, I suggest that the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and the Association for Tourism Exchange across the Taiwan Straits begin negotiations (to ease those restrictions)," Lai told reporters on Wednesday.

The two associations were created by Taipei and Beijing, respectively, to help coordinate and negotiate tourism matters between the two sides.

According to Lai, 2.05 million Taiwanese people traveled to China for tourism or business between January and November last year, while only 285,000 Chinese tourists visited Taiwan during the same time period.