Taiwan residents welcome to visit mainland for vaccination

According to incomplete statistics, as of July 31 more than 139,000 Taiwan compatriots have been vaccinated against COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland, receiving 243,000 doses of vaccines, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Thursday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the office, said earlier the mainland is willing to help Taiwan residents who want to receive vaccinations on the mainland after many people in Taiwan hoped to come to the mainland for vaccination due to a shortage of doses on the island.

Taiwan residents who fly to the mainland can get vaccinated as long as they meet vaccination requirements and strictly adhere to entry regulations related to epidemic prevention before boarding and after arriving, according to the office.

Taiwan residents enjoy the same treatment as people on the mainland and they can apply for vaccinations with the local authorities.

Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang Party, received his first dose of vaccine during a visit to the mainland on July 8 in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.

Other famous Taiwan residents who have come to the mainland for vaccination include singers Hsiao Ching-teng and Julian Chen, as well as Yok Mu-ming, former president of the pro-unification New Party of Taiwan.