China recently announced the intent to relax restrictions on Fujian residents traveling to Matsu, but will not yet permit travel to Kinmen. At the Legislature’s Interior Ministry meeting on Thursday morning, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) responded to legislators about whether this decision was impacted by the February 14 incident where a boat carrying four Chinese nationals capsized off the coast of Kinmen.
Kuan said China has been strengthening coast guard patrols in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. She further explained that China maintains consistent naval routes throughout these areas and around the Tiaoyutai Islands. Regarding the Taiwan Strait and waters near the Kinmen Islands, Kuan assured legislators that the Ocean Affairs Council and Coast Guard Administration are handling matters in accordance with the law.
In the past, Kinmen’s tourism industry has relied heavily on visitors from China. Of the 2.5 million tourists to Kinmen in 2019, about 41 percent were Chinese nationals. Although China has relaxed cross-strait sea and air travel restrictions from Fujian to Matsu, the travel ban to Kinmen that was originally put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been lifted.