China stated that resuming group tours to Taiwan would "further promote the normalization of cross-strait personnel exchanges."

China will soon resume some group tours to Taiwan, according to an announcement made by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Friday. The move will allow residents of Shanghai and Fujian, the province closest to Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, to visit the self-ruled island.

However, the Ministry did not specify when exactly these group tours would resume. It stated that the tours would "promote the interests and wellbeing" of people on both sides of the strait and contribute to "the normalization of cross-strait personnel exchanges."

Taiwan’s government has not immediately responded to the announcement.

Both China and Taiwan have kept travel restrictions between them in place. In June of the previous year, Taiwan issued a travel warning advising its citizens to avoid visiting China unless absolutely necessary. This warning followed threats from Beijing to execute those it deemed "diehard" supporters of Taiwanese independence.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory, and in recent years, it has worked to diplomatically isolate Taipei by enticing its allies to switch allegiance. Additionally, China has increased military pressure on Taiwan through large-scale exercises conducted around the island.