Westward Rush Heating Up? 2.85 Million Taiwanese Visited Mainland China in First Half, Up 25% — Taiwan Affairs Office Supports Cross-Strait Tourism

On July 22, the Taiwan Affairs Office held its regular press briefing, where spokesperson Zhang Han revealed the latest data. According to statistics from China's National Immigration Administration, from January to June 2024, a total of 2.85 million Taiwanese traveled to mainland China, representing a 24.9% increase compared to the same period last year.

Zhang Han stated, "We consistently encourage and support exchanges across all fields between the two sides of the strait, including tourism, and legally protect the legitimate rights and interests of our compatriots from Taiwan." He further criticized the DPP authorities: "They ignore facts and repeatedly hype fabricated data on 'missing persons' to intimidate Taiwanese people, aiming to restrict cross-strait exchanges and sever the kinship between compatriots. Their actions are despicable and their intentions malicious."

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan recently reported incidents of Taiwanese travelers being interrogated in mainland China. For instance, in April 2024, a judge from a local court in Taiwan was questioned by three public security officers at his hotel during a visit to mainland China.

Additionally, in June 2024, a serving and a retired police officer were reportedly taken by force from their guesthouse in Fujian Province by Chinese state security personnel, held in isolation, and interrogated about Taiwan's critical infrastructure and their past work duties. After returning to Taiwan, the two urged the MAC to advise civil servants working in sensitive agencies to avoid traveling to mainland China.

In response, Zhang Han reiterated that cross-strait exchanges are thriving, with over 11.7 million visits by Taiwanese to the mainland since the beginning of 2024. "The DPP authorities, driven by political self-interest, consistently spread rumors and slander the mainland to create a 'chilling effect,' attempting to obstruct cross-strait cooperation and escalate tensions. Such actions are unpopular and will not succeed," he emphasized.