China is reportedly planning to reduce the number of Taiwan-bound tourists in three stages this year as the relationship between China and Taiwan continues to sour.  

In the first stage, which started in March, China is said to have cut the number of Taiwan bond tourists by 50,000 from the fixed monthly quota of 150,000. The quota will be further reduced by 75,000 from next month and finally by 37,500 from October, Taiwanese media reported.  

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China's decision is expected to have a huge impact on Taiwan's tourism industry. Taiwanese media estimates that tourist arrivals from mainland China will be below 2 million this year, down from the 4.1 million last year. According to a rough estimate, Chinese tourists contributed NT$230 billion (S$9.7 billion) to the Taiwanese economy last year.

Chinese authorities reportedly started the campaign immediately in the aftermath of President Tsai Ing-wen's landslide victory in Tiawan's election early this year. The move is seen as a part of China's diplomatic effort to pressurize the Taiwanese new leader to backtrack on her opposition to "one China" principle.

The "one China" principle claims that Taiwan are basically a part of one China. Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party staunchly opposes this agreement as it negates Taiwan's claim as a sovereign nation.              

In her inaugural speech, Presidet Tsai conspicuously omitted to mention the "one China" principle, infuriating the Chinese leadership. Chinese authorities have categorically warned Tsai not to stroke any secessionist movement against China.    

TagsTaiwan, Cross-Strait relation, china, China and Taiwan, Taiwan Tourism