TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation (馬英九基金會) urged President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Saturday (Feb. 8) to prioritize Taiwanese interests by reopening cross-strait tourism and emphasized the need to revive Taiwan's struggling tourism sector and reduce cross-strait tensions.
CEO Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑) announced the foundation's commitment to fostering youth exchanges across the strait, which he believes will enhance understanding and ease tensions. Next Monday, he will lead nearly 40 students to Beijing for the foundation's first student visit to China this year.
Hsiao highlighted China's recent announcement that it would resume group tours to Taiwan from Shanghai and Fujian. Despite this, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) and Tourism Administration (觀光署) have delayed the process, he said, citing the need for further discussions. He also perceived the MAC's rejection of Taipei's invitation to Shanghai groups for the Taipei Lantern Festival as the Lai administration's resistance to cross-strait exchanges.
Hsiao criticized Lai's administration for allegedly discouraging cross-strait interactions since taking office, including the imposition of a travel alert against China and blocking visits from Chinese scholars. He called for the administration to alleviate public fears of potential conflicts and advocated for the resumption of civilian exchanges and tourism.