Permits Rejected for 10 Chinese Participants of Taipei-Shanghai Forum
Taipei Rejects Permits for Some Shanghai Delegation Members Ahead of Twin City Forum
Taipei, Taiwan - Ten members of a Shanghai delegation, including the director of the Shanghai Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office, have had their permits rejected to visit Taipei for the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum, scheduled to begin next Tuesday. the Taipei City Government announced the decision today, citing concerns over escalating cross-strait tensions.
The city government received notification last night that only 92 out of the 102 members of the Shanghai delegation, led by Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan, would be granted entry permits. This comes after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s delegation was permitted to visit Shanghai for the event last year.
“We hope that Taiwan can afford the same treatment to the Shanghai delegation this year,” said Taipei city Government spokesperson Yin Wei. “If the central government decides members of the delegation cannot visit, they should provide a good reason.”
Photo: Kan Meng-lin, Taipei Times
yin expressed regret over the continued barring of chinese media from visiting Taiwan, emphasizing Taiwanese support for a free press.
the Mainland Affairs Council stated that it considers each member’s relevance, professional capability, and necessity in visiting the forum. The council also takes into account the overall state of cross-strait tensions, including China’s increased military drills near Taiwan and its continued exclusion of Taiwan in international bodies.
This year, China issued a 22-point set of “guidelines” to penalize Taiwanese independence separatists, including the death penalty, further straining cross-strait relations.
The council has indicated that it could call to delay the forum at any time if China’s pressure on Taiwan continues to escalate.
Separately, Democratic progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-fong suggested that future budget reviews might include a proviso for the city government to stop hosting the forums with Shanghai and instead arrange forums with other international cities.
Yin responded by stating that Taipei City Government’s exchanges with Shanghai and other international cities are not mutually exclusive.
Cross-Strait Tensions Cast Shadow Over Taipei-Shanghai Forum
Taipei, Taiwan – The upcoming Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum has been thrown into uncertainty as Taipei rejected entry permits for ten members of a Shanghai delegation, including the director of the Shanghai Municipal Taiwan Affairs Office.The Taipei City Government cited escalating cross-strait tensions as the reason for the decision.
This move comes despite Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s delegation being granted access to visit Shanghai for the event last year. The city government expressed disappointment over the disparity in treatment and urged the central government to provide clear justification for excluding the ten delegates.
Taipei City Government spokesperson Yin Wei also lamented the continued restrictions on Chinese media entering Taiwan, underscoring Taiwan’s commitment to press freedom.
The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan’s top China policy-making body, clarified its stance on the issue. It stated that each applicant for the forum is evaluated based on relevance, professional qualifications, and necessity for attending the event. In addition,the council considers the overall state of cross-strait relations,which has been strained by China’s increased military activity near Taiwan and its ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Adding further complexity to the situation is China’s recent “guidelines” outlining penalties for Taiwanese independence advocates,including the death penalty.
The Mainland Affairs Council has signaled that it retains the option to postpone the forum indefinitely if Chinese pressure on Taiwan continues to escalate.
Meanwhile, democratic Progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-fong proposed a potential future shift in Taipei’s city-to-city exchanges. She suggested incorporating a provision into budget reviews that could halt future forums with Shanghai and redirect Taipei’s efforts towards partnerships with other international cities. However, Yin Wei emphasized that taipei’s engagement with Shanghai does not preclude building relationships with other global cities.