China Proposes 10 Pro-Taiwan Measures; Green Camp Taichung Councilors Urge City Government to Reject Tourism "Raise, Trap, Kill"
DPP Taichung city councilors warned the local government against falling into a "raise, trap, kill" trap by blindly accepting China's 10 pro-Taiwan measures. The Tourism Bureau responded that tourism is apolitical.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 12:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 13:01 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 08:04 (19h 2m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung, 22nd) Regarding the 10 Taiwan-related measures proposed by China after the "Cheng-Xi Meeting," DPP Taichung City Councilors Shih Chih-chang and Lin Chi-feng urged the city government today not to be pushed into the "raise, trap, and kill" trap. The city's Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that promoting tourism does not involve politics and has nothing to do with blue or green (partisan) affiliations.
The Taichung City Council scheduled an interpellation on transportation and land administration today. During their questioning, Shih Chih-chang and Lin Chi-feng stated that regarding the 10 Taiwan-related measures brought back by KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, the Taichung City Government should not adopt an attitude of "longing for rain during a drought." Blindly pursuing short-term political dividends could push Taichung's tourism into a "raise, trap, and kill" trap.
Shih Chih-chang cited data from the Taichung City Government's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, noting that the current state of Taichung's tourism development is severe. The number of guests in Taichung's tourist hotels peaked at 244,630 in 2017, but by 2025, the number was halved to 160,163, leaving only 65% of its peak.
Shih Chih-chang questioned why the city government doesn't ponder why foreign tourists are unwilling to visit Taichung, but instead places its hopes on the highly politically uncertain Chinese tourist market. Under the "one-stop" tourism model prior to 2016, most profits were earned by travel agencies and hotels with red (Chinese) capital backgrounds, making it difficult for grassroots shops to benefit. If the city government insists on pursuing a "politically instrumentalized" united front template, it is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
Shih Chih-chang stated that the capacity of Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport is limited. Over the past few years, the city government and local entities have worked hard to promote direct flights with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to diversify risks. However, if airlines reduce their successfully operated routes to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, or Thailand for the short-term profits of political destinations, it will cause a severe "resource crowding out" effect. He demanded that the city government conduct a risk assessment regarding this wave of Taiwan-related tourism.
Taichung City Tourism and Travel Bureau Director Chen Mei-hsiu stated that doing tourism does not touch upon politics and is irrelevant to blue or green affiliations. Currently, the number of foreign tourists in Taiwan is showing a slow decline, but international visitors to Taichung are increasing. Taichung's accommodation rate is also the second highest among the six special municipalities, so overall, tourism and the hotel industry are experiencing positive growth. Taichung Airport had 8 cross-strait routes before the pandemic, and now only 1 remains. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150422
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The Taichung City Council scheduled an interpellation on transportation and land administration today. During their questioning, Shih Chih-chang and Lin Chi-feng stated that regarding the 10 Taiwan-related measures brought back by KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, the Taichung City Government should not adopt an attitude of "longing for rain during a drought." Blindly pursuing short-term political dividends could push Taichung's tourism into a "raise, trap, and kill" trap.
Shih Chih-chang cited data from the Taichung City Government's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, noting that the current state of Taichung's tourism development is severe. The number of guests in Taichung's tourist hotels peaked at 244,630 in 2017, but by 2025, the number was halved to 160,163, leaving only 65% of its peak.
Shih Chih-chang questioned why the city government doesn't ponder why foreign tourists are unwilling to visit Taichung, but instead places its hopes on the highly politically uncertain Chinese tourist market. Under the "one-stop" tourism model prior to 2016, most profits were earned by travel agencies and hotels with red (Chinese) capital backgrounds, making it difficult for grassroots shops to benefit. If the city government insists on pursuing a "politically instrumentalized" united front template, it is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
Shih Chih-chang stated that the capacity of Taichung Ching Chuan Kang International Airport is limited. Over the past few years, the city government and local entities have worked hard to promote direct flights with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to diversify risks. However, if airlines reduce their successfully operated routes to Japan, Korea, Vietnam, or Thailand for the short-term profits of political destinations, it will cause a severe "resource crowding out" effect. He demanded that the city government conduct a risk assessment regarding this wave of Taiwan-related tourism.
Taichung City Tourism and Travel Bureau Director Chen Mei-hsiu stated that doing tourism does not touch upon politics and is irrelevant to blue or green affiliations. Currently, the number of foreign tourists in Taiwan is showing a slow decline, but international visitors to Taichung are increasing. Taichung's accommodation rate is also the second highest among the six special municipalities, so overall, tourism and the hotel industry are experiencing positive growth. Taichung Airport had 8 cross-strait routes before the pandemic, and now only 1 remains. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts. Every one of your sponsorships is a force protecting press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.