China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced on Tuesday it will allow residents of 3 of its cities to transit in Taiwan. The local aviation and tourism industry has been waiting for this green light from China as they believe it will bring many business opportunities.
The office said the decision was a result of the recent meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore. That was the first meeting between cross-strait leaders in 66 years. China will first allow residents of Nanchang, Kunming, and Chongqing to transfer in Taoyuan at Taiwan’s largest airport.
Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen said President Ma Ying-jeou was happy about the decision.
"Regarding the Mainland’s official decision to let Chinese tourists transit [in Taiwan], President Ma said he was pleased. He said China is showing its sincerity about the concrete consensuses of the Ma-Xi meeting. President Ma believes it has not been easy to have a peaceful and prosperous cross-strait situation. He hopes the next president will cherish and maintain it," said Chen.
The new move will allow those Chinese residents to transit in Taiwan as they travel to other countries. Many believe as many as 1 million Chinese will choose to transit through Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Chen Jian-yu also welcomed the move. Chen said the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is well-prepared for relevant CIQS (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security) operations.