DPP authorities block resumption of cross-Strait tourism: spokesman

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have played fast and loose with their promises to lift restrictions on Taiwan residents' travel to the Chinese mainland, which is the true obstacle to developing tourism between the two sides, a mainland spokesman said on Wednesday.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the comment at a press conference in Beijing in response to a media query regarding the DPP authorities' stance on the resumption of travel between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

"In early 2020, the DPP authorities, under the pretext of the epidemic, adopted a series of prohibitive restrictions, including unilaterally banning the people on the mainland from traveling to the Taiwan region, closing the 'three direct links' (which refer to direct mail, transport, and trade links across the Taiwan Strait), canceling a large number of direct flights between the two sides, and prohibiting travel agencies in Taiwan from conducting tourism business to the Chinese mainland, thereby blocking the development of tourism between the two sides," said Chen.

"As China had brought the epidemic outbreak under control, the Chinese mainland announced the resumption of receiving group tours of Taiwan residents to the mainland in May 2023. In April this year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the resumption Fujian residents' travel to Taiwan's Matsu (a small island attached to Taiwan but close to the mainland) for the first time, and group tours resumed after the reopening of direct ship routes between the two sides. So from August 9 to 11, the first batch of tourists from Fujian Province traveled to Matsu," said Chen.

"Currently, the Chinese mainland has resumed tourism endorsements for Fujian residents to visit Matsu. On August 30, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that Fujian residents' travel to Taiwan's Kinmen County would resume, with a related familiarization trip set to depart soon. All these measures are active responses to the aspirations of Taiwan residents and the tourism industry for the resumption of tourism, exchange, and cooperation between the two sides, and have been welcomed by them," added Chen.

"For some time, the DPP authorities have repeatedly broken its promises to lift the bans on Taiwan residents' traveling to the mainland, and even elevated the so-called restriction to orange level in June. Media reports have also revealed that the DPP authorities, under the pretext of so-called 'concerns about national security', rejected applications from the Taiwanese tourism industry to charter ships to the mainland. The facts show that in order to seek political benefits, the DPP authorities have disregarded the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan residents and the tourism industry. This is the true obstacle to the resumption of tourism between the two sides. The DPP authorities should face up to the legitimate rights of Taiwan residents and the interests of the Taiwan tourism industry, and lift the unreasonable bans on group tours of Taiwan resident to the Chinese mainland," said Chen.

DPP authorities block resumption of cross-Strait tourism: spokesman

The third part of China Media Group (CMG)'s Mid-Autumn Festival gala aired on Tuesday night blends traditional Chinese culture with international artistry in a diverse lineup, bringing the audience an unforgettable night of music performance and poetry recitation.

The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.

Themed "Moon Bright", the third part of the grand gala features an array of classic songs, reunion-themed narratives, and touching performances. Highlights include a music adaptation of the famous Chinese poem Qing Ping Diao by Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty and expression; and a middle-school chorus from the Macao Special Administrative Region, singing about their love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.

The third segment of the show also features celebrated French musician Richard Clayderman, who enchants the audience with his timeless A Comme Amour a breathtaking rendition of The Butterfly Lovers concerto. The concerto, inspired by the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a modern classic that intertwines Chinese folklore with romantic Western composition techniques.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. This year, the day fell on Tuesday (Sept 17). During the festival, families reunite, admire the moon, share the traditional festive pastry of mooncakes and light up lanterns.

Part 3 of CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala showcases diverse lineup of performances