Beijing Halts Individual Travel To Taiwan
"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("
"); });
2019-07-31 HKT 15:05
Share this story
Beijing stepped up pressure on Taiwan on Wednesday as it announced the suspension of individual travel permits to the island "due to current cross-strait relations".
The programme had allowed mainlanders from 47 cities to apply for permits to visit Taiwan on their own instead of visiting on group tours.
But the tourism ministry said in a brief statement that their issuance would be suspended from Thursday "due to current cross-strait relations".
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have plummeted since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016 because her Democratic Progressive Party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of "one China".
As punishment, Beijing has cut official communications, ramped up military exercises, poached diplomatic allies and ratcheted up economic pressure on the island. (AFP)
Tycoon Sits China's University Exams For 27th Time
Among the millions of fresh-faced high schoolers sitting the nation's dreaded "gaokao" college entrance exam on Wednesda... Read more
China's First Home-grown Large Cruise Liner Undocks
The first large cruise liner developed by China completed its undocking in Shanghai on Tuesday, marking its complete tra... Read more
Chinese, US Diplomats Hold 'frank' Talks In Beijing
Meetings between senior mainland and US officials in China this week struck an upbeat chord, with both sides agreeing to... Read more
China's Cruise Industry Set To Make Waves Again
China's cruise industry, suspended for more than three years due to the pandemic, is expected to resume operations in th... Read more
Toll From Deadly Landslide Rises To 19
All 19 people caught in a landslide in Sichuan province on Sunday have been confirmed dead, state media reported, announ... Read more
'Nato-like Alliance Disastrous For Asia-Pacific'
Defence Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday told the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore that any moves to establ... Read more