Chinese tourists arriving in Taiwan this week may meet face to face with followers of the spiritual group Falun Gong, but tourism authorities will try to prevent possible confrontations, an official said yesterday.
Tourism Bureau official Chang Shi-chung (張錫聰) made the comments as the nation prepares to welcome hundreds of Chinese tourists scheduled to arrive on Friday with the launch of weekend charter flights between the two countries.
Chang said Taiwanese tour guides would explain Taiwan’s unrestricted freedom of speech to the Chinese visitors and ask them to stay calm if confronted by Falun Gong members.
Falun Gong, a spiritual movement rooted in Buddhism, Taoism and traditional Chinese beliefs, has been persecuted as an “evil cult” and banned in China since 1999.
Followers in Taiwan are allowed to practice freely, and they have promoted the movement at sightseeing spots popular with Chinese tourists.
Chang’s comments came one week after the Tainan City Government tried to persuade Falun Gong protesters to leave a historic site where they have maintained a constant presence.
Tainan City officials said signs posted by the group violated traffic regulations restricting the posting of advertisements.
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