President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) inauguration speech on Monday raised speculation as to whether the ban on China-bound Taiwanese tourists would be lifted. Lai mentioned potentially resuming engagement with China in his speech, starting with the resumption of bilateral tourism and educational exchanges, as he urged China to acknowledge Taiwan and its government.
Chairman-designate of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) said on Tuesday that all matters are open to discussion provided both sides demonstrate goodwill.
Cheng pointed out that Taiwan seeks healthy and orderly exchanges with China. He noted that while China halted tourist visits to Taiwan in 2019, cross-strait exchanges have gradually resumed since the end of the pandemic, which are steps in the right direction.
Cheng added that there are currently around 2,000 postgraduate Chinese students in Taiwan. In January, the government extended health insurance coverage to Chinese students, protecting their health rights—a fair policy move. He expressed his hope to extend this coverage to undergraduate students and urged Beijing to facilitate this soon, believing that Taiwanese universities are ready to welcome more Chinese students.