Amid strained relations between mainland China and Taiwan, a forum in Xiamen has revealed the cautious and limited travel of Taiwanese people to the mainland. The forum, located at the forefront of cross-strait integration, shed light on the current state of travel and potential strategies for improvement.
The trip from Fujian province in mainland China’s southeast to the Taipei-controlled Quemoy Island, also known as Kinmen, spans 18 km (9.7 nautical miles) and takes less than half an hour via the Wutong ferry terminal in Xiamen. This ferry route, one of the fastest ways to travel between mainland China and Taiwan, was bustling before the Covid-19 pandemic. It facilitated transfers from Quemoy to the island of Taiwan. However, services were suspended during the pandemic and only partially resumed in January last year. Current political tensions further restrict mainlanders from using this route unless they are visiting family or studying in Taiwan.
Despite these restrictions, the ferry has become a popular travel option for Taiwan residents due to the limited resumption of cross-strait flights. According to Taipei’s Ministry of the Interior, fewer than 730,000 Taiwanese—just 37 percent of the 2019 figure—traveled by boat from Quemoy to Xiamen and Quanzhou, another port city in Fujian, last year.
The annual Straits Forum, which opened in Xiamen last week, showcased bustling activity at the Xiamen wharf. This event provided insights into Taiwanese attitudes towards the mainland. The forum, described by Beijing as a “people-to-people exchange platform” and by Taipei as a “united front tool,” featured over 50 side events. These included discussions on grassroots governance, youth exchanges, and cultural and economic interactions. The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing estimated on Wednesday that more than 7,000 Taiwanese would attend the forum.
The forum underscored the cautious approach Taiwanese travelers are taking towards mainland China, influenced by limited transport options and political tensions. It also highlighted the potential for increasing cross-strait travel through enhanced ferry services and broader exchange programs, aiming to foster better relations and understanding between the two regions.