China appears set to ease entry procedures for Taiwanese people who travel to Fujian, China’s closest province to Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait.
China’s state-run CCTV reported that Chinese authorities unveiled ten measures on Monday to optimize exit and entry services for Taiwan residents traveling to Fujian, starting on January 1.
The measures will allow people from Taiwan to apply for entry permits online. A fast clearance channel is to be opened to travelers from Taiwan who voluntarily agree to meet certain conditions.
The immigration application process for Taiwanese who opt to settle in Fujian will also be halved to ten working days.
Immigration procedures for fishing vessels and small trade merchant ships from Taiwan will also be simplified.
The series of measures are part of a plan announced by the leadership under President Xi Jinping in September to set up a demonstration zone in Fujian province for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.
They come as China’s leadership has been seeking to push for the unification with Taiwan.
It appears the administration is taking specific steps to bring in people from Taiwan to the Chinese mainland ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election in January.
