TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Majority Leader of the Legislative Yuan Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) led a delegation of 17 Kuomintang (KMT) legislators to China on Friday (April 26). 

Details of the lawmakers’ schedule in China have not been released. In a pre-departure speech at Taoyuan International Airport, Fu said that Saturday (April 27) would be the “highlight” of the trip, suggesting some joint announcement with Chinese authorities is planned, reported UDN.

Fu originally planned to depart on Thursday (April 25), but he called off the trip after a series of earthquakes struck Monday and Tuesday (April 22-23). The group’s departure was only delayed by one day, until the end of the legislative session on Friday. 

According to Fu, the purpose of the trip is to “break the ice” between Taiwan and China, and to revitalize cross-strait tourism, reported SETN. 

Some commentators speculate that Fu Kun-chi may meet with the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, Song Tao (宋濤), or possibly with the chair of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wang Huning (王滬寧). 

As to the “highlight” planned for Saturday, it was reported that Beijing may lift the ban on Chinese tour groups visiting Taiwan. Restrictions previously imposed on Taiwan’s agricultural products or Chinese students studying in Taiwan may also be topics of discussion during the trip, per UDN.  

Some protesters were reportedly present at the airport. They criticized the KMT’s China trip as kowtowing to Beijing, while some counter-protestors were also there to support the group of KMT lawmakers.