Taiwan criticizes China's ban on individual trips to island

Taiwan's foreign minister has criticized China's suspension on trips by individual Chinese citizens to the island, saying Beijing appeared to be afraid of allowing its people to experience "a country where freedom, openness (and) tolerance are the order of the day."
The one-sentence notice from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said such trips would be suspended from Thursday "in light of the current relations between the two sides."
In a tweet Wednesday night about Beijing's tourism restrictions, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu wrote "How very sad?"
"They should be allowed to join more & more travelers from around the world in experiencing a country where freedom, openness & tolerance are the order of the day," Wu wrote. "What's to fear?"

Taiwan's Presidential Office also criticized China's move, with spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka saying it will "not only restrict mutual understanding between the people of China and Taiwan but also deprive Chinse of the opportunity to know Taiwan."
Citing official statistics, China Daily said the suspension of individual visits would cut the number of Chinese tourist trips to the island by about 700,000 within six months, adding that "may be just the first of a series of moves."