TAIPEI — Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is defending newly implemented rules governing group travel to China, as opposition politicians and travel operators accuse the government of making cross-Strait tourism increasingly difficult.

The dispute centers on a new requirement that travel agencies assisting certain China-bound groups help register trip information with Taiwan authorities. The measure took effect amid heightened concern in Taipei over the safety and legal risks Taiwanese travelers could face in China.

Importantly, the rule does not mean every Taiwanese traveler is being forced to register personally. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said registration remains voluntary for individuals, although travel agencies handling qualifying group trips are required to assist with the process.

What changed?

Since September 1, travel agencies arranging certain mainland-bound inspection visits, exchanges and privately organized group trips have been required to help provide information about travelers and their itineraries.

The information can include the purpose of travel, contact details, travel dates and relevant passport or mainland travel-permit information.

Agencies that fail to comply with the requirements can face fines ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$50,000. Taipei Times reported that agencies are also expected to inform travelers about potential risks, assist with registration and maintain required travel-agency liability insurance.

The policy comes just before China’s new entry and exit regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 15, adding another layer of uncertainty to cross-Strait travel.

Taiwan’s MAC has warned that the new Chinese regulations could increase risks for Taiwanese visitors and has urged people considered particularly vulnerable to carefully assess whether travel to China is necessary.

DPP faces criticism from opposition and travel operators

The new system has quickly become a political flashpoint.

According to the South China Morning Post, Taiwan’s opposition politicians and tourism operators have criticized the measure, with Kuomintang (KMT) figures accusing the DPP government of turning cross-Strait exchanges into a political issue ahead of Taiwan’s local elections.

Travel operators have also raised concerns about being held responsible for collecting information from customers who may not want to register.

The controversy highlights a difficult balancing act for Taipei: protecting Taiwanese citizens traveling to China while avoiding measures that could further damage already strained cross-Strait tourism ties.

Taiwan says travelers are not being forced to register

Taiwan’s government has sought to clarify what the rule actually requires.

MAC Deputy Minister and spokesman Liang Wen-chieh said authorities hope travel agencies will assist travelers with registration, but individuals who do not want to register will not be forced to do so.

That distinction is central to the debate because the new rules impose compliance responsibilities on travel agencies rather than creating a blanket compulsory registration requirement for every Taiwanese citizen visiting China.

Taiwan’s Tourism Administration has nevertheless instructed agencies handling certain group activities to complete required procedures before departure.

A bigger cross-Strait tourism dispute

The latest controversy comes against the backdrop of a much broader dispute over tourism between Taiwan and China.

Taiwan currently permits independent travel to China but has maintained restrictions on travel agencies recruiting members of the general public for conventional package group tours to the mainland.

The rules have become particularly contentious because demand for cross-Strait travel remains substantial.

Chinese state media reported that cross-Strait travel reached 3.12 million trips during the first half of 2026, with Taiwan residents accounting for about 2.85 million trips, a 24.9% increase from the same period a year earlier. Those figures come from China’s National Immigration Administration and should be viewed as figures reported by Chinese authorities.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s tourism industry has repeatedly called for broader normalization of cross-Strait tourism.

Chinese authorities have also publicly urged Taipei to remove what Beijing describes as barriers to tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Why the timing matters

The registration dispute is unfolding at a particularly sensitive moment in Taiwan-China relations.

Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as part of China, while Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. Relations have remained tense under President Lai Ching-te’s administration, with Taiwan simultaneously strengthening its security posture and maintaining channels for people-to-people exchanges.

The timing of the new travel procedures is also significant because Beijing is preparing to implement new entry and exit regulations on September 15.

Taipei says the changes could create additional risks for Taiwanese citizens traveling across the Strait, making it more important for authorities to know where vulnerable travelers are and how they can be contacted during emergencies.

The bigger question: tourism or security?

The debate now goes beyond paperwork.

For Taiwan’s government, the issue is increasingly framed around traveler safety, emergency assistance and national security.

For critics in the opposition and tourism industry, however, the new procedures risk creating another obstacle to cross-Strait tourism at a time when businesses are seeking greater certainty and more travelers are returning to China.

The disagreement reflects the larger dilemma facing Taiwan: how to preserve ordinary exchanges between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait without overlooking the growing political and security risks surrounding those exchanges.

For travelers, the most important takeaway is straightforward: Taiwan has not imposed a blanket mandatory registration requirement on every individual traveling to China. Instead, new rules place specific registration-assistance and reporting responsibilities on travel agencies handling qualifying group trips.

And with China’s new entry-and-exit rules approaching on September 15, the argument over how much oversight is necessary—and how much is too much—is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

WWC ONE MEDIA G.A