China widens mainland access for Taiwan residents

Key Concepts

• Entry Points Expansion: Increased number of checkpoints for Taiwanese residents to enter mainland China.
• On-Arrival Permits: Permits issued upon arrival for Taiwanese residents, with an increased number of issuing checkpoints.
• Single Visit Permit: The permit is valid for one visit to the mainland.
• 30-Minute Process: Beijing claims the entire permit application process takes only 30 minutes.
• First-Time Business Fee Waiver: Waived application fees for first-time businesses.
• Free Access to Scenic Spots: First-time businesses can visit 3,000 scenic spots for free.
• Facilitating Exchange and Cooperation: Stated aim of the policies by mainland China's Taiwan affairs offices.
• Long-Term Open Strategy: China's signaling of a sustained approach towards Taiwan.
• Chinese Travelers to Taiwan: Chinese citizens can now obtain permits to visit Taiwan at any exit/entry office, not just their registered place of residence.
• Expanded Border Inclusion: Ports bordering Russia, North Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Macau are now included in the expanded policy for Taiwanese permits.
• Increased Travel Options: Providing Taiwanese residents with more choices for traveling to China from various global locations.
• 5-Year Multiple Entry Permit: Option for a 5-year permit with multiple entries, obtainable within 4 days on the mainland.
• Taiwan-Friendly Policies: Continuation of policies designed to be favorable to Taiwan.
• Fujian Province Policy: Within the last two years, Fujian Province announced a policy allowing Taiwanese people to live, work, and settle without a residence permit.
• Cultivating Connectivity: Beijing's objective to foster social, economic, and emotional ties across the Taiwan Strait.
• Engagement Despite Political Freeze: Beijing's desire for engagement with Taiwanese people even when political dialogue is difficult or frozen.
• Policy Announcement Timing: The policy change was announced at the start of the month, preceding the China-Japan spat over Taiwan.
• Mobility Policies vs. Political Mistrust: The argument that mobility policies alone cannot overcome deep-seated political mistrust, and any progress will be incremental.

Expansion of Entry Points and Permit Facilitation for Taiwanese Residents

Starting today, Taiwanese residents have access to mainland China through an increased number of entry points. The number of checkpoints issuing on-arrival permits has doubled from 50 to 100. This scheme encompasses land, rail, and sea ports. The permit issued is valid for a single visit to the mainland. Beijing asserts that the entire process for obtaining this permit takes a mere 30 minutes.

Incentives for First-Time Businesses

First-time businesses applying for entry will benefit from a waiver of their application fee. Additionally, they are granted free access to 3,000 scenic spots on the mainland.

Strategic Objectives and Long-Term Vision

According to mainland China's Taiwan affairs offices, these policies are designed to facilitate exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. CNN's Deborah Wong reports that for China, this signals a "long-term open strategy with Taiwan." This is further evidenced by the reciprocal measure allowing Chinese travelers to visit Taiwan by obtaining permits at any exit/entry office across the mainland, a change from the previous requirement of applying only at their registered place of residence.

Expanded Geographic Scope and Travel Flexibility

The inclusion of ports that border Russia, North Korea, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and Macau in this expanded policy provides Taiwanese residents with more options to travel to China, regardless of their global location. Furthermore, Taiwanese residents can opt for a 5-year multiple-entry permit, which can be obtained within 4 days while on the mainland. This represents an extension of "Taiwan-friendly policies" observed in recent years.

Precedent of Taiwan-Friendly Policies

An example of such policies is the one announced by Fujian Province within the last two years, allowing Taiwanese individuals to live, work, and settle in the province indefinitely without requiring a residence permit.

Cultivating Cross-Strait Connectivity

Beijing's overarching goal is to cultivate social, economic, and emotional connectivity across the strait. The intention is to encourage engagement with Taiwanese people, even when political dialogue is frozen or challenging, by highlighting the potential benefits of such engagement.

Policy Implementation and Context

The policy change was announced at the beginning of the month, preceding the China-Japan spat over Taiwan. Despite this geopolitical context, the policy officially took effect on November 5th.

Limitations of Mobility Policies

However, as noted by Professor [Name not specified in transcript], "mobility policies cannot truly overcome political mistrust." The sentiment is that any measures taken will likely yield only incremental progress.