Mainland slams Taiwan's DPP for obstructing cross-Straits tourism

A mainland spokesperson on Friday condemned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for using weak excuses to obstruct cross-Straits tourism and other forms of exchange, disregarding public opinion and the interests of the island.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to a media query regarding recent Taiwan inspection tour applications submitted by tourism operators in Fujian Province and Shanghai Municipality.

The applications were submitted to the Taiwan authorities shortly after the mainland announced that Taiwan group tour services would be resumed for residents of Fujian and Shanghai in January.

However, the Taiwan authorities have recently claimed that matters related to Taiwan-bound mainland tourism, including the inspection tours in question, should first be discussed by the Taiwan Strait Tourism Association and the mainland-based Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits.

Zhu stressed that these claims were merely an excuse to hinder mainland tourists from visiting the island, noting that the two aforementioned organizations would be able to discuss arrangements for cross-Straits tourism after its resumption.

She noted that the inspection tour applications from mainland tourism operators demonstrate the mainland's proactive efforts to restore cross-Straits tourism – efforts that have been welcomed by the island's tourism industry and the general public. However, the DPP authorities' negative stance and attempts to obstruct the move have dampened industry expectations.

Zhu emphasized that if the DPP authorities remain selfishly obstinate in obstructing cross-Straits exchange, they will inevitably lose more public support and face the consequences of their actions.