China welcomes Taiwanese tourists

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 45

China welcomes Taiwanese tourists

By

STEPHEN NISBET

of Reuters through NZPA Xiamen, China China is expanding its most unusual chain of hotels to welcome covert visitors from Taiwan — well behaved spies included. A spokesman for a “Taiwan compatriots’ reception centre” north of this east China port said at least 10 such places were either functioning or planned in Fujian province alone, directly across the sea from the Nationalist-ruled island. Neighbouring coastal

provinces had similar centres. The deputy director of the Xiangchen reception centre, Jiang Yumin, said that between 500 and 600 visitors from Taiwan per year risk a jail sentence or fine back home by using his hotel for an illegal stay on the mainland. He said the visitors included tourists and businessmen, but most, between 300 and 400, were fishermen who called at mainland ports because of bad weather or to take on fresh water or medical supplies. To the Chinese authori-

ties, every such visitor is a small victory against the Taiwan Government’s policy of no contact with the communist state, which is seen by Taipei as having usurped since 1949 its rule over all of China. Jiang told Reuters that it was possible Taiwan spies had been among those who have used the reception centre, which is more than 20km from the sea. “They are accepted (by the coastal station) even if they are spies, provided they do not do destructive activities. We believe in them,” said Jiang. Jiang said many guests

visited relatives, and their average three-to-four day stay taught them about life on the mainland “so they will not feel afraid of the Communist Party”.

Every year, a few decided to settle down here permanently, he added. Jiang said no record was kept at his centre of those who stayed there, in order to minimise the risk of them getting into trouble with the Taiwan authorities. He said he knew of people being punished in Taiwan (”a three to six month gaol sentence, or a fine — I don’t know how much”) for having visited

the mainland. Concern about being identified made some visitors tense, Jiang said, adding that journalists were not allowed to take photographs of the centre nor speak to guests. In spite of these difficulties, Jiang emphasised growing calm in relations between the Mainland and Taiwan. This emphasis on detente is established policy by the Chinese Government, especially since 1979 when Peking normalised relations with the United States, Taipei’s main arms supplier.