TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday denied reports that 10 Taiwanese travelers have gone missing in China since late June, accusing Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council of fabricating the claims to discourage cross-strait exchanges.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, TAO Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian claimed the reports were "completely unfounded" after an ETToday reporter asked about Taiwanese going missing while traveling in China in recent weeks, including four members of a tour group, one person visiting relatives, one seeking employment, and four others whose circumstances remain unclear.
Zhu accused the DPP government of deliberately spreading false information to create panic among the Taiwanese and damage cross-strait exchanges. She claimed Taiwanese “enjoy a safe, comfortable, and pleasant environment when traveling, visiting relatives, and conducting business in China.”
"The DPP authorities are deliberately smearing China, attempting to create panic, obstruct cross-strait exchanges and escalate confrontation," Zhu said.
During the briefing, the reporter also asked whether any of the missing Taiwanese were involved in telecommunications fraud or other criminal activity and mentioned a separate incident involving a Taiwanese judge who was reportedly questioned by police after checking into a hotel in northern China. Zhu did not directly address either of the follow-up questions.
Instead, Zhu called for a full restoration of normal cross-strait direct flights, saying passenger demand remains strong. She said direct passenger flights carried 3.14 million travelers during the first half of the year, a 15% increase from a year earlier.
Zhu urged Taiwan to remove what she described as "unreasonable restrictions" on cross-strait aviation and allow airlines on both sides to schedule flights according to market demand, per the press briefing.
Her comments came after Taiwan General Chamber of Commerce Chair Hsu Shu-po (許舒博) announced on Monday that applications have been submitted for Mid-Autumn Festival charter flights between Taiwan and the Chinese cities of Kunming and Xian, with service tentatively scheduled to begin in September, per China Times.
National Cheng Kung University Political Science Professor Wang Hung-jen (王宏仁) said it would be unlikely for MAC to fabricate such information, noting that Taiwan's government is subject to legislative oversight and would be expected to verify reports before issuing a public warning, per LTN.
Wang said the government has a responsibility to alert citizens to potential risks associated with travel to China, particularly given the lack of official communication channels between Taipei and Beijing. He added that if authorities failed to warn the public after receiving credible information, they could later face scrutiny over their inaction.
