Tourist numbers from the mainland have fallen dramatically since Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen took office. (
Channel News Aasia
Date: 31 Dec 2018
Photo: AFP/Hsu Tsun-hsu)
TAIPEI: A record 11 million tourists have visited Taiwan in 2018, the government said Monday (Dec 31), a boon for the island as it courts holidaymakers across Asia to make up for a shortfall from China.
The number of Chinese mainlanders visiting Taiwan has dropped dramatically since the 2016 election of president Tsai Ing-wen who has refused to acknowledge Beijing’s stance that the island is part of “one China”.
Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war on the mainland in 1949.
China has cut off official communication with Tsai’s government and stepped up military and diplomatic pressure. [FULL STORY]
