The number of Chinese tourists to Taiwan halved in the weeks before Saturday’s elections, several Taipei-based travel agencies said, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing discouraged visits.
Taiwan elections are always sensitive in China, which worries that the democratic free-for-all across the Taiwan Strait could cause people to wonder why their own government does not allow free polls.
Chinese tourists were put off visiting Taiwan because of the “highly politicized” atmosphere, a Beijing government spokesman said in October last year, but would not say if Beijing was advising people not to go.
Photo: Pichi Chuang, Reuters
Those who did make it were curious to see democracy at work.
“I very much hope to see [the elections] because we still cannot see that in China,” said Max, a 30-year-old tourist from Beijing.
“It is a rare opportunity. I want to witness the civil rights that democracy delivers,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to joining one of the traditionally boisterous election rallies the night before the polls.
Hundreds of Hong Kongers have also flown to Taiwan for the elections.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is expected to be defeated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a party Beijing loathes. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) — if elected — would become the nation’s first female president and the first Chinese-speaking female president in the world.
A Chinese Communist Party (CCP) member who gave his name as Wong, on a eight-day tour to Taiwan, said he was impressed by the freedom of speech that Taiwan enjoys after seeing election flyers and campaign trucks on the streets.
“In China, democracy is just a word, but in Taiwan it is put it into practice,” he said. “I am jealous.”
At least 18 political parties and 530 candidates are registered to run for the 113-seat Legislative Yuan, with election campaigns broadcast live by more than half a dozen news channels.
“It is so cool — seeing a female leader potentially get elected,” said Yang, a 21-year-old Chinese tourist. “Her style seems very refreshing.”
However, some Chinese visitors were not so impressed.
“Taiwan is part of China, so they should only support the Communist Party,” said a middle-aged man from Jiangsu Province, who declined to be named.
“It is too extreme and it is a waste of money,” he said, referring to election flyers and campaign motorcades.
“China is too autocratic and Taiwan is too free-wheeling,” said a Chinese tourist surnamed Han, as she watched the changing of guard in front of a giant statue of Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙) at the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei. “How nice it would be to have a balance from both sides.”
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS