At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, news that the mainland’s high-speed railway network has exceeded 50,000 kilometers in operating length has sparked heated discussion in Taiwan. Some commentators say that Taiwan has long suffered from energy shortages and aging infrastructure, and that if mainland capital and technology were introduced, projects such as tunneling through the Central Mountain Range and improving transportation in eastern Taiwan would not be a problem. Traveling from Hualien or Taitung back to Taipei would no longer require worrying about road closures or landslides—that would be a real sense of security. Some netizens have also said they look forward to the day when they can take a high-speed train across the Taiwan Strait to travel between the two sides. What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that the mainland’s high-speed rail construction is world-renowned. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the mainland has built and put into operation more than 12,000 kilometers of high-speed rail, bringing 128 counties into the high-speed rail era. At present, the total length of high-speed rail lines is 50,400 kilometers, covering 97% of cities with urban populations of more than 500,000, forming the world’s largest and most modern high-speed railway network. The fast-running high-speed trains make distances “smaller,” make dreams “bigger,” and make faraway places no longer distant.

He said that peaceful reunification will create enormous opportunities for Taiwan’s economic and social development. With a strong motherland as its backing, Taiwan will be better in all respects, including infrastructure development. Taiwan compatriots, together with mainland compatriots, will share in the dignity and glory of the great country, share in the achievements of Chinese-style modernization, and usher in a bright future of prosperity and stability.

At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: The Taiwan authorities recently released data showing that in 2025 Taiwan’s total imports of consumer goods reached US$49.4 billion, a record high, of which nearly one quarter (24.5%) came from the mainland, ranking first among sources. Mainland products have long been popular among Taiwanese consumers for being good quality and good value. What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that the mainland has the world’s largest, most comprehensive, and most complete industrial system, and its manufacturing scale has ranked first globally for many consecutive years. Intelligent, green, and integrated development is accelerating. From leisure snacks, home appliances, and mobile phones to new-energy vehicles and industrial robots and other high-end equipment, a dazzling array of “Made in China” products has entered millions of households, gone all over the world, and led consumption trends.

He said that compatriots on both sides of the Strait share common cultural traditions and living habits, so it is natural that mainland consumer goods are deeply loved by the people of Taiwan. Strengthening cross-Strait economic cooperation and deepening cross-Strait integrated development is the right path that serves the common interests of compatriots on both sides. They will continue working to allow Taiwan compatriots to share in the mainland’s development achievements in all aspects of daily life—food, clothing, housing, and transportation—and also welcome more Taiwan compatriots to come to the mainland to look around and see for themselves, and personally experience the mainland’s rapid, day-by-day development and changes.

At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the 2026 edition of model group-tour contract templates, including the Model Contract for Mainland Residents Traveling to Taiwan. Given that the resumption of cross-Strait tourism is currently obstructed, the simultaneous update of this text has drawn attention. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration said that if the mainland side has goodwill to restore cross-Strait tourism, it should reply as soon as possible and conduct consultations on tourism issues through the “two associations.” What is your comment on this? In addition, is the policy announced by the mainland in January last year to resume group tours to Taiwan for residents of Fujian and Shanghai still valid?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that between 2013 and 2014, the current group-tour contract model texts were successively issued, including five model contracts covering group tours, mainland residents traveling to Taiwan, and other categories. This revision is a package update of the existing texts. In 2024, the mainland resumed travel by Fujian residents to Kinmen and Matsu. The current revision of the Model Contract for Mainland Residents Traveling to Taiwan helps to meet market demand in a timely manner, further standardize market order, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of tourists and travel agencies.

He said that driven by their confrontational “Taiwan independence” nature and political self-interest, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities turn a deaf ear to mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and the voices of the industry, turn a blind eye to the harm to the interests of grassroots people and businesses, and repeatedly use various pretexts to obstruct, restrict, and set up barriers to tourism and exchanges in various fields. This is deeply unpopular. The island’s tourism industry has already expressed extreme disappointment and strong indignation. If the authorities do not change course and continue to act out of selfish motives, they will only further lose public support and bring the consequences upon themselves.

Zhang said that the mainland has always upheld the concept that “people on both sides of the Strait are one family,” and has continuously worked to promote cross-Strait travel and exchanges and cooperation in tourism and other fields, releasing goodwill. Their sincerity in restoring mainland residents’ travel to Taiwan remains unchanged. The key question now is whether the DPP authorities can face up to mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and the voices of the industry, and create favorable conditions for cross-Strait travel and exchanges and cooperation.

At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, a retired Taiwanese serviceman entered a scenic area on the mainland using his Taiwan military retirement ID and requested free admission on the same basis as retired PLA personnel, which has attracted attention online. May retired Taiwanese servicemen receive the same treatment as retired PLA personnel in mainland scenic areas?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that since 2024, some mainland scenic areas have introduced various facilitation measures for Taiwan compatriots visiting the mainland. Among them, Taiwan compatriots who hold a Taiwan Compatriot Permit issued for the first time (issuance number “01”) are eligible, within one year, for ticket fee reductions or waivers when visiting mainland scenic areas and tourist attractions. The scope of application of these facilitation measures is clearly defined as Taiwan compatriot “first-time visitors” (台胞“首来族”).

As for the specific provisions regarding preferential ticket policies for retired personnel of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, he said that these can be checked separately.

At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, Taiwan’s legislative body convened a review hearing on the “impeachment case against Lai Ching-te.” Lai Ching-te refused to attend and give explanations, and was sharply criticized by Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party legislators as being “arrogant and guilty,” “contemptuous of public opinion,” and “derelict in duty, incompetent, and unethical.” What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that Lai Ching-te stubbornly adheres to a “Taiwan independence” separatist stance and, in pursuit of political self-interest, disregards the people’s livelihood and well-being on the island. He has repeatedly manipulated the judicial system to strike at political opponents, trampled on and obstructed democratic freedoms, and attempted to implement what was described as “green authoritarian rule.” These actions seriously run counter to mainstream public opinion on the island and will inevitably invite a backlash from public opinion.

At the January 28 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Taiwanese media have reported that, in order to so-called “prevent minors from accessing age-inappropriate content and potential cybersecurity risks,” Taiwan’s “Ministry of Digital Affairs” has for the first time proposed a list of high cybersecurity-risk apps, which includes TikTok, Weibo, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Baidu Cloud, and has provided it to the education authorities for reference. What is your comment on this?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities’ hype about so-called “cybersecurity risks” of mainland applications is driven by sinister motives. By doing so, they are depriving the people of Taiwan—especially young people—of their right to know and their freedom to use social media platforms, cutting off channels for cross-Strait exchanges, and deliberately stirring up the so-called “resist China, protect Taiwan” narrative. What this exposes is their inner fear and “unease.”

He said that the DPP authorities’ arbitrary behavior will inevitably backfire on them. Their retrograde actions cannot stop the popular trend among the people of Taiwan—especially young people—to learn about the mainland and to come to know and grow closer to their compatriots there.

At the January 21 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs, total cross-strait trade in 2025 reached US$314.33 billion, with mainland exports to Taiwan up 11.2% and the mainland’s imports from Taiwan up 6.0%. Public opinion on the island has analyzed this as fully showing that cross-strait economic cooperation has strong momentum, strong resilience, and great potential. What is your comment? What expectations do you have for the prospects of cross-strait economic exchange and cooperation going forward?

In response, Peng Qing’en, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said: In 2025, despite the adverse impact of the external environment and obstruction and sabotage by the DPP authorities, cross-strait economic and trade exchanges still maintained a steady growth trend. This fully shows that strengthening cross-strait economic cooperation and deepening integrated development across the Strait is the right path that accords with the shared interests of compatriots on both sides, and that any attempt to promote “decoupling and breaking the chain” across the Strait or to weaken cross-strait economic ties runs counter to the trend and is doomed to fail.

Peng Qing’en said: As the mainland economy continues to develop in a sustained and healthy manner during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, and as high-level opening up and the development of an open economy achieve notable progress, the foundations for cross-strait economic cooperation and integrated development will become even more solid, the areas involved will continue to expand, and the level will continue to rise. This will better benefit compatriots on both sides and help strengthen the Chinese nation’s economy.

At the January 21 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: Recently, after U.S.–Taiwan tariff negotiations concluded, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the overall reciprocal tariff rate applied to Taiwanese goods would not exceed 15%. Taiwan’s semiconductor and technology companies will make at least US$250 billion in additional direct investment in the United States, and the Taiwan authorities will also provide at least US$250 billion in credit guarantees. The DPP authorities said the tariff talks with the United States achieved their intended goals, and that the “Taiwan model” has won U.S. support. What is your comment?

In response, Peng Qing’en, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said: The so-called U.S.–Taiwan trade negotiations are in essence the United States using tariffs as a big stick to apply maximum pressure, coercing Taiwan to sharply increase investment in the United States in an attempt to hollow out Taiwan’s advantageous industries. The so-called consensus that was reached is nothing more than a “sell-yourself voucher” by which the DPP authorities sell out the well-being of Taiwan’s people and the interests of industrial development; it is a letter of capitulation that bows and scrapes in the face of economic bullying.

Peng Qing’en said: Next, Taiwan will bear massive investment commitments totaling US$500 billion, and face the major risk of relocating 40% of the semiconductor supply chain to the United States, in exchange for nothing more than a reduction of the already unreasonable so-called “reciprocal tariff” rate from 20% to 15%. Whether this deal is fair or reasonable is obvious to anyone with eyes. But the DPP authorities are not ashamed of this; they take pride in it, trying to deceive Taiwan’s people—beautifying a “smash-the-pot-and-sell-the-iron”-style compromise as an “important breakthrough,” dressing up one-sided bullying as “equal cooperation,” and packaging a complete kneel-down as the “Taiwan model.” By letting the United States strip and carry off Taiwan’s industries and bleed Taiwan’s people dry in this way, such incompetence and shamelessness will only completely ruin Taiwan’s development prospects.

At the January 21 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: Recently, when meeting with a visiting delegation from the U.S. state of Arizona, Lai Ching-te said that in recent years the United States has become Taiwan’s largest destination for overseas direct investment. He said he hopes the two sides can sign an agreement to avoid double taxation as soon as possible, to help firms such as TSMC establish a long-term presence in the United States and also create high-paying jobs locally. What is your comment?

In response, Peng Qing’en, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said: The United States has always put “America’s interests first,” is accustomed to wielding a “tariff big stick” to harm others for its own benefit, and the so-called U.S.–Taiwan trade and supply-chain cooperation will only drain Taiwan dry and force Taiwan to sever its own tendons and bones. In Americans’ eyes, Taiwan’s value is not as a “supply-chain partner,” but rather as a “pawn” for “using Taiwan to contain China,” a “cash cow” for the military–industrial complex, and an “ATM” for the reshoring of manufacturing. According to reports, labor costs at TSMC’s U.S. plants are more than twice those at its plants in Taiwan; equipment depreciation costs are as much as four times higher; and gross profit margin is one-eighth that of its plants in Taiwan.

Peng Qing’en said: In order to “seek independence by relying on external forces,” the DPP authorities have time and again fed the tiger with their own flesh, and now want TSMC to substantially increase investment in the United States to create so-called “high-paying jobs” for America. What will be destroyed is only the roots of industry on the island, and what will be chilled is only the hearts of Taiwan’s people.