Tourism and Agriculture Face Risks Amid Cross-Strait Strain

TaiwanPlus News

As President Lai Ching-te unveils new measures to strengthen Taiwan against Chinese threats, industries brace for economic fallout. Farmers are working to diversify export markets away from China, while the tourism industry fears prolonged travel restrictions. Beijing has a history of using trade and tourism to punish Taiwan, and many are preparing for the worst.

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00:00Strong words from a president for a neighboring country.

00:11President Lai Qingde last week unveiled plans to strengthen Taiwan

00:16in light of threats from the country's neighbor China.

00:19China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory

00:23and has been ramping up efforts to infiltrate the country.

00:26But with Lai's new measures,

00:28which include plans to restore a military court system in Taiwan

00:32and counter Chinese espionage among military ranks,

00:36it's not a question of how China will react, but when.

00:40Beijing has previously used trade and tourism restrictions

00:44to punish Taiwan for actions it doesn't like,

00:47a move Taipei says is economic coercion.

00:51Now, farmers who export their goods to China are bracing for a new storm.

01:06But local agriculture authorities say scars of the past

01:10have taught locals a valuable lesson.

01:22While farmers may be better prepared

01:25to deal with impending sanctions from Beijing,

01:28the tourism industry is not so optimistic.

01:31Tourism operators have eagerly awaited COVID-era travel bans

01:35between Taiwan and China to lift.

01:51With tensions high and uncertainty looming,

01:54Taiwan's industries are bracing for impact,

01:57knowing that when Beijing responds,

01:59it won't be just farmers and tourism operators feeling the strain.

02:03Yixin Chen and Leslie Liao for Taiwan Plus.

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