TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 大陸委員會) will expedite the review of applications for the first group of Chinese tourists visiting Kinmen (金門), Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) announced on Thursday (Sept. 19). The minister shared this plan while meeting with Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍), where they discussed tourism and educational exchanges.
Chiu emphasized the MAC's full cooperation to ensure the smooth arrival of the tourists, welcoming more groups to visit Kinmen, Matsu, and other outlying islands. During the meeting, Chen urged the council to quickly allow individual Chinese tourists to visit Kinmen after the group tours and advocated for expanding opportunities for Chinese students to study in the region.
Chiu also noted that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) had already expressed support for Chinese degree students studying in Taiwan. Therefore, the MAC remains optimistic about allowing Chinese students to attend universities in Kinmen.
Chen believes Kinmen is a crucial area for cross-strait interactions closely related to the council's activities. She trusts that Chiu will prioritize the concerns of Kinmen residents and hopes the MAC will genuinely consider Kinmen's development, contributing to its economic prosperity.
