The CCP has repeatedly voiced dissatisfaction over the recent Taiwan-U.S. tariff trade agreement, using terms like “hollowing out Taiwan” and “industrial hollowization.” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said both sides should prioritize their own economic development, while addressing criticisms during a regular MAC news conference on Thursday. He further urged China to address its own problems before fretting over Taiwan’s industries and economy. 

Liang pointed to late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s (李克强) 2020 remark that 600 million people in mainland China earned less than 1,000 yuan (US$143) monthly. Updated 2024 data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China shows that figure rose to only 1,300 yuan (about US$186) – a meager 300 yuan (US$43) increase. Yet, Liang noted that China spends US$60 billion to US$100 billion annually on foreign aid and loans, totaling over US$1.5 trillion. He asked why they didn’t use that money to improve people’s lives, urging China not to meddle in Taiwan’s affairs. 

On tourism, Liang referenced China’s release of a travel contract for Chinese tours to Taiwan. The MAC hopes for a reply to its negotiation requests to ensure safety, quality, stability, and fairness, saying China wanted to send its own tour groups while ignoring Taiwan's call for talks. 

The deputy chief added that Taiwanese tour groups still cannot go to the mainland due to China’s 22 Articles on Punishing Independence and continued labeling of individuals, including prosecutors handing internal national security cases, as “Taiwan independence accomplices” – moves that sour cross-strait ties.