Hey there! Have you ever thought about visiting friends or relatives in another place, but found out that new rules make it harder? Well, that’s what’s happening with people who want to travel between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
Recently, the leader of Taiwan authorities, Lai Ching-te, introduced new policies that make it more difficult for people from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland to visit each other. These policies also affect cultural, academic, and even fun activities like art and tourism! 😮
For example, some artists from Taiwan who work at schools are now worried about going to events on the Chinese mainland. They’re scared that it might hurt their jobs back home. Sun Di, who organizes art events, said that it’s getting harder to bring people together through art. “This is what the Taiwan authorities want – to cut off the shared cultural roots between both sides,” he said.
Tourism is also feeling the pinch. Travel agencies in Taiwan are concerned because many people are nervous about the new rules. One travel agent from Kinmen said that not as many tourists are coming from the Chinese mainland anymore, and that’s affecting jobs for people who work in tourism.
The Chinese mainland wants to make it easier for people to visit Taiwan. They announced plans for group tours from places like Fujian and Shanghai. But the Taiwan authorities haven’t been very welcoming to these ideas.
People like Zhang Zhang, who works at a travel agency in Fujian, say that lots of people on both sides want to visit each other and be friends. But the new rules are making it tough.
These changes aren’t just about travel. They also affect businesses. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have been trading with each other for a long time. Many people think that making it harder to connect will hurt both sides.
Some people in Taiwan, like Wu Chia-ying and Weng Hsiao-ling, are worried that these policies will create more divisions. They think that the more you keep people apart, the more they’ll want to come together!
What do you think? Do you think people should be able to visit each other easily? 🤔
Reference(s):
Lai's restrictive policies send chills to cross-Straits exchanges
cgtn.com
