China Announces New Measures to Boost Taiwan Exchanges During KMT Visit

China has unveiled a series of new measures aimed at expanding cultural and travel exchanges with Taiwan, coinciding with the conclusion of a rare visit by an opposition delegation from the island.

The delegation was led by Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT), marking the party’s first leadership visit to China in a decade. The trip has drawn criticism in Taiwan, where some accuse the KMT of adopting a pro-Beijing stance.

Beijing suspended high-level engagement with Taiwan following the 2016 election victory of the Democratic Progressive Party, which continues to govern and rejects China’s claim over the self-ruled island.

On Sunday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office released a list of 10 measures designed to promote cross-strait engagement and improve ties. According to state media, the initiatives focus on strengthening people-to-people exchanges and enhancing cooperation.

Among the key proposals is the resumption of a pilot programme allowing individual tourists from Shanghai and Fujian Province to visit Taiwan’s main island.

Authorities also plan to push for the full restoration of direct flights between Taiwan and several mainland cities, including Urumqi, Xi’an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou.

The announcement signals a renewed push by Beijing to deepen engagement with Taiwan despite ongoing political tensions between the two sides.