Straits Forum delivers for Taiwan's grassroots

Young bonds

Political barriers have failed to dampen the enthusiasm for travel, as official data points to an accelerating recovery in personnel exchanges. Fujian entry ports recorded 518,000 arrivals from Taiwan from January to May, marking a 29.7 percent surge year-on-year.

To facilitate closer integration, 19 pairs of cross-Strait youth organizations signed partnership agreements alongside the release of 23 cooperative projects during the forum in Xiamen.

In the financial sector, the event saw the release of the mainland's first-ever group standard for banking services tailored for Taiwan enterprises to help them more easily enter the mainland market.

For maritime and cultural cooperation, authorities announced five new measures to boost cross-Strait shipping, while Fujian province introduced Taiwan television dramas into prime-time satellite broadcasting slots.

Young Taiwan visitors at the forum welcomed these policies and noted the stark contrast between their experiences on the mainland and the political rhetoric in Taiwan.

An Chen-chu, a Taiwan youth, recalled her surprise at discovering mainland digital payment systems and said: "The DPP authorities are blocking our channels to see the world. I told people back home how convenient it is to go out with just a phone instead of a heavy wallet."

Chen Yi-xuan, another young attendee from Taiwan, expressed her excitement at seeing mainland actor Zhang Linghe, whose recent historical drama has become a major hit on the island.

Mentioning several mainland period dramas also popular in Taiwan, she said, "Traditional aesthetics and Chinese cultural heritage share a profound resonance across the Strait because our culture stems from the same roots.

"Culture serves as an excellent bridge. Since Taiwan's roots are in the mainland, I hope more young people will return to explore their heritage, allowing both sides to interact and integrate like family," Chen said.

Su Heng, a Taiwan political commentator, said the DPP tried to obstruct the Straits Forum out of fear that island residents will witness the mainland's rapid development and see through the falsehoods fabricated by the party.

Su cited two recent Taiwan polls showing that public support for "independence" has dropped to a record low of 21 percent, while nearly 60 percent back proactive peace consultation with the mainland.

The public narrative in Taiwan is changing as people witness the mainland's growing global strength, Su said, adding that shifting US policies have triggered widespread skepticism toward the US.