Taiwan Won’t Ease Travel Restrictions

Taiwan today rejected China’s suggestion that the two foes relax their entry and exit procedures to allow more visits by each other’s residents.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Henry Wang said mainland China’s proposal, made by Communist Party Politburo member Deng Ying-chao, was another “communist trick, repeating the same old tune.”

Taiwan, seat of the Nationalist government that fled the mainland in 1949, has repeatedly rejected all of the communist government’s overtures for a rapprochement.

Deng, widow of former Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, said Wednesday that China intends to simplify procedures for allowing Taiwanese to visit the mainland. She expressed hope that Taiwan would relax its regulations in response.

Thousands of Taiwanese are known to slip into mainland China every year to visit relatives despite the Taiwan government’s objections.

Ma Kung-keng, director of the Interior Ministry’s Exit-Entry Bureau, said Taiwan must impose strict entry restrictions to prevent a “human sea” of communist infiltrators who could threaten the island’s security.