Taiwan's Tourism Administration has instructed travel agencies to ensure the safety of tourist groups visiting China and take strict measures to register their travel. According to media reports, this step has been taken amid Beijing's plan to implement new rules to control the movement of people across its border. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned that these new changes could increase risks to the personal safety of Taiwanese citizens traveling to China.
The council has advised travelers considered particularly vulnerable to consider whether their trip is essential before traveling to China. Additionally, Taiwanese tourists are being encouraged to register their travel plans through the government's official registration system, allowing the government to provide rapid assistance in the event of any emergency. The tourism administration has sent instructions to travel agencies to complete the checklist before leaving for study tours, exchange programs and self-arranged group trips.
Under the new instructions, agencies will have to inform travelers about the potential risks associated with traveling to China and provide assistance in completing the government registration process. On the other hand, this geopolitical tension between China and Taiwan is based on historical and political logic, where Beijing considers Taiwan as its part, while Taiwan acts as a separate entity with its own independent democratic identity and economy.