Taipei [Taiwan]: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is reportedly subsidising religious pilgrimages for Taiwanese temple-goers as part of its broader “united front” strategy aimed at fostering cultural and political ties between Taiwan and mainland China, a Taiwanese intelligence official said on Sunday, according to the Taipei Times.
The official disclosed that financial incentives are being offered to encourage Taiwanese citizens to travel to China for religious events, particularly those honouring deities revered in Taiwan. The CCP is said to be either fully or partially covering travel expenses, excluding airfare, which is typically paid by the participants themselves.
One recent example involved a large-scale pilgrimage to Fujian Province to mark the 1,065th birthday of the sea goddess Matsu, a figure deeply venerated across Taiwan.
“The CCP pays NTD 1,000 per person recruited by temple and borough heads to attend these events. If they manage to sign up 100 people or more, that rate doubles,” the intelligence source stated.
The effort targets some of Taiwan’s most prominent temples, with participants receiving full hospitality once in China. This includes speeches from Chinese officials, particularly those from the Taiwan Affairs Office, highlighting the people-to-people connection and shared cultural heritage.
According to the source, the campaign is a deliberate effort by Beijing to strengthen cross-strait ties through grassroots channels.
“Temple-goers have also been invited to visit cultural sites in China to ‘promote a language, ancestry and cultural roots shared between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,'” the source added.
While some participants reportedly treat these subsidised trips as free travel, others have tried to obscure the organisational structure of their involvement.
“Some borough wardens… meet up with the group later in China to create the impression that they are travelling separately,” the source noted.
Examples of such trips have emerged from both major and smaller temples across Taiwan, including areas like Miaoli and rural Tainan, according to the Taipei Times.
The intelligence official cautioned against the implications of accepting such incentives.
“Accepting CCP-funded hospitality does not align with the norms of legitimate exchanges,” the source said.