BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have rejected a proposal by popular mainland motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO to open an outlet on the island, turning a deaf ear to the enthusiastic calls from local riders for the brand's introduction.
Citing "legal restrictions," the DPP authorities claimed that mainland-made motorcycles are prohibited from being imported into Taiwan, warning that violators would face fines. Such a stance, however, appears strikingly out of step with the broader trend of enhancing exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.
ZXMOTO, established in Chongqing in 2024, has gained considerable attention in Taiwan, largely due to the impressive track record of its 820RR-RS race bike. The model has clinched multiple first-place finishes in the Superbike World Championship this year, a historic feat for a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer in such competitions and a compelling testament to the brand's quality and performance.
Across Taiwan, motorcycle enthusiasts and prominent media commentators have heaped praise on the brand, voicing strong support for the introduction of its motorcycles to the local market, which records a motorcycle ownership rate of around 62 units per 100 residents. Yet, the DPP authorities have willfully brushed aside these voices and persisted in banning the sale of and investment by mainland motorcycle brands on the island.
The rejection smacks of outright discrimination and double standards. While motorcycle brands from Japan and Europe are available on the island, the DPP authorities have been blatantly defying free market principles by singling out and imposing bans on competitively priced, high-quality alternative motorcycle models from the mainland.
As observed by local media, the mounting calls for the introduction of ZXMOTO motorcycles essentially reflect the public's aspiration for a more open market, higher-quality products, and a lighter financial burden for consumers. Yet the current restrictions lay bare the authorities' indifference to people's needs.
Behind this rejection lies a well-calculated political agenda: the DPP authorities are clearly wary that granting market access to mainland-manufactured motorcycles in Taiwan would allow local people to witness first-hand the tangible progress of the mainland's manufacturing sector. This move is also part of a purported broader plan to decouple Taiwan's economy from the mainland.
In recent years, the DPP authorities have systematically obstructed cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. Be it imposing restrictions on imports of various mainland products, or peddling groundless "personal safety risk" warnings to deter Taiwan residents from traveling to the mainland, all such moves serve the same underlying purpose: to perpetuate their misleading narrative that portrays the mainland as "dangerous" and "backward," in a bid to advance their secessionist agenda.
Last month, the DPP authorities rejected applications from mainland tourism operators to conduct preparatory visits to Taiwan, showing total disregard for the local tourism sector's call for resuming cross-Strait trips and the livelihoods of ordinary people on the island.
Despite these obstacles, the mainland remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting cross-Strait exchanges and integrated development, and to welcoming people from Taiwan to share in its development opportunities and achievements. This sincerity is fully demonstrated by the package of 10 policies and measures announced by the mainland in April -- spanning inter-party communication, infrastructure, travel, trade and culture -- to boost cross-Strait ties.
The Taiwan question is a scar left over by a full-blown civil war fought between the forces led by the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang about eight decades ago. The unresolved civil war and foreign interference have left the two sides of the Strait in a prolonged state of political confrontation.
However, people on both sides of the Strait share a common aspiration for peace, stability, and improved cross-Strait relations, as well as a better life for all. The overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not change, and the prevailing momentum bringing the Chinese on both sides of the Strait closer together will not change.
The latest figures speak for themselves: in the first half of this year, Taiwan residents made 2.85 million trips to the mainland, marking a 24.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Enditem
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