Beijing Rejects Taiwan Travel Risk Warnings, Cites Rising Travel Numbers

Beijing has rejected warnings from Taipei regarding safety risks for Taiwanese travelers in mainland China. Responding to the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) announcement that it will publish weekly reports on Taiwanese citizens reported missing or detained across the strait, Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Zhang Han criticized the move as an attempt to intimidate the public. Zhang cited official statistics showing a 24.9% year-on-year increase in trips by Taiwan residents to the mainland during the first half of 2026 to counter Taipei's assertions.

The dispute highlights deepening rhetoric and diverging narratives between Beijing and Taipei over civil cross-strait travel. While Taipei seeks to warn its citizens of legal and security risks under mainland jurisdiction, Beijing uses immigration statistics to argue that people-to-people exchanges are expanding despite political tensions.

Beijing has rejected safety warnings issued by Taipei regarding travel to mainland China, accusing Taiwan authorities of attempting to deter cross-strait exchanges. During a regular press conference on July 22, 2026, Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Zhang Han addressed recent statements by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). The MAC had announced plans to regularly publish weekly data regarding Taiwanese citizens who go missing or face detention in mainland China, advising the public to carefully evaluate safety risks and refrain from traveling "if possible." In response, Zhang cited figures from China's National Immigration Administration to counter Taipei's risk warnings. According to official statistics, total cross-strait travel reached 3.119 million person-times between January and June 2026, representing a 22.1% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Within that total, visits by Taiwan residents to the mainland reached 2.85 million person-times, up 24.9% year-on-year. Zhang stated that mainland authorities protect the life, property, and legitimate rights of Taiwanese citizens in accordance with the law, asserting that travelers move smoothly and safely across the strait. He accused Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of disregarding facts and fabricating claims to create a "chilling effect" aimed at intimidating the Taiwanese public and restricting cross-strait interactions.