The Statistical Analysis on Interactions between People in Taiwan and China

October 30, 2000

Since November of 1987 when the government lifted the ban on Taiwan people's visiting relatives in China, there has been a historical breakthrough between the relationships across Taiwan Strait. The situation of mutual isolation and opposing position between Taiwan and China over the four decades has been changed. Contact and interaction between people of Taiwan and China have begun. The relationship between two entities across Taiwan Strait has entered a new era. Over the past decade, the ever-growing social, economic and cultural interchanges have been beneficial to mutual understanding and stability. The following is a study on the condition of interaction of people in Taiwan and China.

I. Taiwan people entering China

Since "the Rules for Permitting Taiwan People Entering China" were promulgated in April of 1993, general public in Taiwan were no longer limited by particular restraints for visiting China, except civil servants, personnel of secret service and male civilians in military service or subject to military service in the near future. A Taiwan person may enter and return from China for multiple times and no re-application is required in a 3-year period. Between 1993 to September of 2000, there are 1.985 million Taiwan people applying for entering China. The following three causes account for the most percentage: "general businesses", " visiting and relatives" and " touring and visitation". The three categories account for 55%. By looking at the historical data, it is found that there was the highest number of application in 1994. In that year, 434,000 people applied. Later, former president Lee visited U.S.A. in June of 1995. China retaliated by conducting missile tests and military maneuvers in August of 1995 around Pengchia Island and East Sea. In March of 1996 when presidential election was conducted in Taiwan, China conducted missile tests outside Keelung and Kaohsiung Harbor. As a result, the number of applications plummeted to be 83 thousand people in 1997 (the lowest number). In 1998, the dialogue between Taiwan and China was resumed and the relationship between the two was improved. The number of applications increased to be 135 thousand. In 1999, there were 272 thousand people applied for approval.

For January to September of 2000, there are 398 thousand persons applying for approval to visit China. There is an increase by 142% as compared to the same period of preceding year. There is an increase of 190% for the category of "touring and visitation". There is an increase of 148% for the category of "general businesses". However, there is a decrease in the applications for "residing in China" by 57% as compared to the same period of the preceding year.

II. People in China coming to Taiwan

The ban was lifted in 1987 to allow people in China to visit Taiwan to attend funerals. Currently, people in China visiting Taiwan fall into the following three categories: short-term visit, long-term stay and residing in Taiwan.

1. Short-term visit

People in China may apply for a short-term visit to Taiwan to conduct social, cultural, educational and economic interactions. The number of people in China visiting Taiwan has been increasing over the years. In 1999, the number exceeded 100 thousand people for the first time, reaching 113 thousand. At the end of September 2000, the accumulated number of people in China visiting Taiwan has reached 561 thousand people. In term of gender, the number of female China people visiting Taiwan far exceeds the number of male over the years and the gap is expanding. During January to September of 2000, for every male in China visiting Taiwan, there are 2.7 female in China visiting Taiwan. In other words, the number of female China people visiting Taiwan is 2.7 times of male.

As for the causes of such visits, over the years (1993 to September of 2000), people in China visit Taiwan mainly to conduct "social interactions". There are 439 thousand people under this category, who account for 84%. "Visiting relatives" (305 thousand people, accounting for 58%) and "Visiting ill relatives" (119 thousand people, accounting for 23%) are the major causes. Secondly, it is for "cultural, educational interactions" (61 thousand people, accounting for 13%).

As shown in the data for January to September in 2000, there are 93,000 China people visiting Taiwan. There is an increase by 7.8% as compared to the same period of the preceding year. There are 66 thousand people coming to Taiwan to "visit relatives", who account for 71%. It reflects an increase by 19% as compared to the same period of the preceding year. There are 12 thousand people coming to Taiwan to "visit ill relatives", who account for 13%. It reflects a decrease by 17% as compared to the same period of the preceding year.

2. (Long-term) stay in Taiwan

According to Article 17 of "the Statute for Relationship between Taiwan People and People in China", the causes for China people applying for a (long-term) stay in Taiwan are the following: (1) being spouse of Taiwan people; the marriage is effective for two years or a child is born under the marriage; (2) for political, economic, social considerations, etc. and it is deemed necessary.

From 1993 to September of 2000, there are all together 12,002 people in China granted approval for stay in Taiwan. The cause for such a stay is mainly for joining families, which accounts for 97%. 95% of the applicants are female. During January to September of 2000, there are 3,995 people obtaining approval for staying in Taiwan. It reflects an increase by 210%. The trend should be taken note of.

3. Residing in Taiwan

The prerequisites for people applying for residing in Taiwan (according to Article 16) are categorized into the following 7 types: (1) the descendent or spouse of Taiwan people and at the age more than 70 or less than 12; (2) a person from China whose Taiwanese spouse is deceased needs to stay in Taiwan to take care of minor children; (3) a soldier from Taiwan who was forced to stay in Mainland China after 1945, his(her) spouse, descendant and descendant's spouse... During 1993 to September of 2000, there are all together 24,822 people obtaining approval for residing in Taiwan. Among them 62% are joining families and 38% of them are returning to Taiwan. Male and female each account for approximately 50%.