China will soon allow group tours to Taiwan to resume for residents of Fujian and Shanghai. It is to be seen if the Chinese government further relaxes tourist policy. The Lai administration has stated publicly that it welcomes Chinese tourism on a reciprocal basis...
In August, the Chinese government announced a list of 78 countries in which tour groups will now be allowed to travel to. This includes a number of frequent travel destinations for Chinese tourists that China is otherwise geopolitically at odds with, such as the US, South Korea, Japan, and the UK...
When questioned in the legislature earlier this week, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai said that according to government back-channels, Chinese group tours to Taiwan would not likely be resuming this year. This occurs even as tourism is expected to return to pre-COVID levels next year...
The Chinese government recently announced a list of 78 countries in which tour groups will now be allowed to travel to. This includes a number of frequent travel destinations for Chinese tourists that China is otherwise geopolitically at odds with, such as the US, South Korea, Japan, and the UK. Notably, in response to the announcement, stocks for travel companies in these countries immediately rose, a sign of how Chinese tourists are considered big spenders in a number of sectors...
Scenes of disruption took place across Hong Kong today, with a general strike and eight rallies held at the same time across multiple districts of Hong Kong. Apart from the heavy use of tear gas by police during the day, nightfall saw the reemergence of triad members to attack demonstrators...
Demonstrations continue in Hong Kong, with thousands of civil servants protesting yesterday outside Chater Garden, as well as protests today in Mong Kok. The past nights have also seen repeated demonstrations outside police stations in response to arrests...
Reports of unusual actions by the Chinese government aimed at affecting Hong Kong and Taiwan have emerged in the last day. First, the Chinese government announced that individual tours to Taiwan from 47 cities across China will come to a halt starting on August 1st. Second, reports have emerged of Chinese troops amassing on the border between Hong Kong and China, leading to fears that this could be an early sign of a PLA crackdown on Hong Kong. A report by the SCMP later stated that these were police by 190,000 Chinese police officers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, not military drills, but the development has raised fears nonetheless...