Beijing denounces exchange limits by Taiwan authority

Beijing denounced on Thursday the Taiwan authority’s revised regulation that further restricts exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the island.

Visitors from the Chinese mainland who once served in posts of the Communist Party of China, or the military, can be denied entry, and permits already issued to them can be revoked, under a revised regulation on entry to Taiwan published by the Taiwan authority earlier this month, according to media reports in Taiwan.

The regulation also said “sensitive” applicants from the mainland — sensitive because of their identities or travel plans — will be subject to additional scrutiny before being allowed to visit.

Applications from Chinese mainland visitors can be rejected if their hosts or tourism agencies have ever provided inaccurate data in applications, and their permits to visit Taiwan can be revoked even after they are granted.

An Fengshan, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement that expanding and intensifying communication and exchanges across the Taiwan Straits is the will of the peoples on both sides of the Straits, and is a mainstream trend.

The move by the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, made in its own selfish interests and with a despicable political purpose, will further damage the fruits of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and the interests of compatriots along the Straits — Taiwan residents in particular, he said.

An said the Chinese mainland will continue to make efforts to expand and intensify economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan, and promote personnel exchanges across the Straits.

The Chinese mainland will continue to improve services for Taiwan compatriots and solve their difficulties, and work in solidarity with them to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations for the peaceful reunification of China, he said.