Taiwan Affairs Office Again Mentions Travel to Taiwan; MAC Reiterates Need for Cross-Strait Tourism 'Mini-Talks'
As the Chinese side expressed hopes to resume tourism for Shanghai and Fujian residents to Taiwan, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reiterated its stance that negotiations between the cross-strait tourism authorities must come first. Without talks, resumption cannot proceed, it said, asking for a response from Beijing.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 20:20
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(CNA, Taipei, 14th, by reporter Li Ya-wen) Mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) stated that it had previously announced the promotion of resuming a pilot program for individual tourism for residents of Shanghai and Fujian to Taiwan, and hopes Taiwan will open up as soon as possible. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) reiterated that this must first go through negotiations between the cross-strait tourism 'mini-talks' bodies and hopes the other side will respond to the request.
The MAC held its regular press conference this afternoon, hosted by Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh.
Yesterday, TAO spokesperson Zhang Han stated at a regular press conference that the tourism industries on both sides of the strait have recently begun mutual inspection visits, paving the way for subsequent cross-strait tourism exchanges and cooperation. It was previously announced that the resumption of the pilot program for individual travel for residents of Shanghai and Fujian to Taiwan would be promoted, with the hope that Taiwan would open up soon.
Liang Wen-chieh responded that no inspection groups from the mainland to Taiwan's main island have been approved so far. The stance on opening up cross-strait tourism has not changed; whether it's group tours or individual travel to Taiwan, it must first be negotiated through the 'mini-talks' between the tourism bodies (Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits). Only after a result is reached can it proceed, and he hopes the other side can respond to this request.
On April 29, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism announced that Shanghai residents can apply for travel to Kinmen and Matsu from that day.
Liang Wen-chieh stated that as of now, there have been 3 cases involving 13 person-trips for Shanghai residents visiting Kinmen and Matsu. Shanghai is farther from Fujian, and the travel route from Shanghai to Fujian and then to Kinmen and Matsu is indeed 'a bit more difficult' to become popular. He said that after a period of time, when more statistical data is available, another report will be made to the public. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150514
The MAC held its regular press conference this afternoon, hosted by Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh.
Yesterday, TAO spokesperson Zhang Han stated at a regular press conference that the tourism industries on both sides of the strait have recently begun mutual inspection visits, paving the way for subsequent cross-strait tourism exchanges and cooperation. It was previously announced that the resumption of the pilot program for individual travel for residents of Shanghai and Fujian to Taiwan would be promoted, with the hope that Taiwan would open up soon.
Liang Wen-chieh responded that no inspection groups from the mainland to Taiwan's main island have been approved so far. The stance on opening up cross-strait tourism has not changed; whether it's group tours or individual travel to Taiwan, it must first be negotiated through the 'mini-talks' between the tourism bodies (Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits). Only after a result is reached can it proceed, and he hopes the other side can respond to this request.
On April 29, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism announced that Shanghai residents can apply for travel to Kinmen and Matsu from that day.
Liang Wen-chieh stated that as of now, there have been 3 cases involving 13 person-trips for Shanghai residents visiting Kinmen and Matsu. Shanghai is farther from Fujian, and the travel route from Shanghai to Fujian and then to Kinmen and Matsu is indeed 'a bit more difficult' to become popular. He said that after a period of time, when more statistical data is available, another report will be made to the public. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150514