China's Taiwan Affairs Office has strongly criticized recent moves by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities to restrict cross-strait family visits, calling the measures “a malicious attempt to undermine kinship ties.” The controversy erupted after Taiwan region officials proposed tightening travel rules for public servants visiting the Chinese mainland.
At a Wednesday press briefing, spokesperson Zhu Fenglian slammed the DPP’s proposed amendment to travel permits, which would reduce eligible relatives for family reunions from fourth-degree to third-degree kin. 🚨 The rules would also require police and senior officials to submit mainland travel applications seven days in advance.
“This is another underhanded scheme to block normal cross-strait exchanges,” Zhu stated, emphasizing that the DPP’s actions “betray the fundamental interests of Taiwan residents.” She noted over 120,000 Taiwan compatriots currently work or study in the Chinese mainland, with family ties spanning generations.
The restrictions come amid heightened tensions, with analysts suggesting the DPP aims to limit grassroots cultural exchanges ahead of 2026 local elections. Many young Taiwan residents have voiced frustration online, with one netizen commenting: “They’re using bureaucracy to tear families apart.” 💔
While cross-strait tourism partially resumed earlier this year, these new hurdles could impact everything from tech collaborations to ancestral tomb visits. Will kinship prevail over politics? Stay tuned. 📲
