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.”
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