This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-49178314
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| China to stop issuing individual travel permits to Taiwan | China to stop issuing individual travel permits to Taiwan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China has announced that it will stop issuing individual travel permits for Taiwan. | China has announced that it will stop issuing individual travel permits for Taiwan. |
| The country's tourism ministry said its decision, in effect from Thursday, was spurred by "the current cross-strait situation". | The country's tourism ministry said its decision, in effect from Thursday, was spurred by "the current cross-strait situation". |
| Solo travellers from 47 cities - including Beijing and Shanghai - have been able to visit since 2011. | Solo travellers from 47 cities - including Beijing and Shanghai - have been able to visit since 2011. |
| But tensions have been rising with Beijing, which considers the island territory to be part of China. | But tensions have been rising with Beijing, which considers the island territory to be part of China. |
| The latest travel ban does not apply to groups of tourists. | The latest travel ban does not apply to groups of tourists. |
| However, visitor numbers could be cut by 700,000 if it remains in place until the end of the year, the South China Morning Post newspaper quoted Robert Kao, a member of Taiwan's Travel Agent Association, as saying. | However, visitor numbers could be cut by 700,000 if it remains in place until the end of the year, the South China Morning Post newspaper quoted Robert Kao, a member of Taiwan's Travel Agent Association, as saying. |
| Travel measures were relaxed under the former government of Ma Ying-jeou, whose Kuomintang party enjoyed warmer relations with mainland China. | Travel measures were relaxed under the former government of Ma Ying-jeou, whose Kuomintang party enjoyed warmer relations with mainland China. |
| Relations have since cooled and Beijing introduced restrictions on tour group numbers in 2016, the year Mr Ma was beaten by independence-leaning candidate Tsai Ing-wen. | |
| But tourism numbers managed to remain constant, according to Taiwan's tourism bureau, with around 2.69 million people visiting from mainland China in 2017 and 2018. | But tourism numbers managed to remain constant, according to Taiwan's tourism bureau, with around 2.69 million people visiting from mainland China in 2017 and 2018. |
| China has proposed that Taiwan be governed under a "one country, two systems" structure similar to Hong Kong. | China has proposed that Taiwan be governed under a "one country, two systems" structure similar to Hong Kong. |
| President Tsai - who faces another election next January - has argued that civil unrest in Hong Kong shows this model to be a failure. | President Tsai - who faces another election next January - has argued that civil unrest in Hong Kong shows this model to be a failure. |
| This week Taiwan held two days of live-fire military drills, coinciding with Chinese military exercises off the mainland coast facing the island. | This week Taiwan held two days of live-fire military drills, coinciding with Chinese military exercises off the mainland coast facing the island. |
| China has never renounced using force to bring the island under its control, and warned last week that it was ready for war if Taiwan made any bid for independence. | China has never renounced using force to bring the island under its control, and warned last week that it was ready for war if Taiwan made any bid for independence. |
| Beijing has also criticised America for not adhering to its One China policy, under which the US recognises and only has formal ties with China, not Taiwan. | Beijing has also criticised America for not adhering to its One China policy, under which the US recognises and only has formal ties with China, not Taiwan. |
| It has also accused the US of "undermining Chinese sovereignty" in its relations with Taiwan. | It has also accused the US of "undermining Chinese sovereignty" in its relations with Taiwan. |
| America has no official relationship with the island, but passed a law last year to encourage closer economic ties. It also allows US officials to meet their government counterparts in Taiwan, and vice versa. | America has no official relationship with the island, but passed a law last year to encourage closer economic ties. It also allows US officials to meet their government counterparts in Taiwan, and vice versa. |
| Earlier this month the US also approved a potential arms sale to Taiwan, estimated to be worth $2.2bn (£1.81bn). | Earlier this month the US also approved a potential arms sale to Taiwan, estimated to be worth $2.2bn (£1.81bn). |