Taipei, February 27 (ANI) — Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said the government’s ban on senior officials from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) entering Taiwan remains in place, citing a continued lack of goodwill from Beijing.
MAC Deputy Chairman Liang Wen-chieh defended the policy after questions about a Shanghai delegation that attended the Taipei Lantern Festival. The delegation was led by a lower‑ranking TAO official rather than the director of the TAO’s Shanghai office. Liang said the delegation’s lower rank was specified in the TAO’s entry application and that no application had been received from the Shanghai office director or deputy director.
The report noted China’s decision to send a junior official may be linked to large‑scale military drills conducted around Taiwan last year, which followed Taipei Mayor Chiang Wen‑an’s participation in the Shanghai‑Taipei Twin City Forum, where Chiang called for peace and shared prosperity across the strait.
MAC imposed the ban in 2024 in response to the Chinese Communist Party’s release of a 22‑point set of guidelines aimed at “die‑hard” Taiwanese independence supporters, measures that reportedly included provisions permitting the death penalty. Liang said any reconsideration of the entry policy would depend on a clear demonstration of goodwill from Beijing.
“Beyond the guidelines, China has continued its political and military pressure on Taiwan. Therefore, the council maintains its policy,” Liang said, adding that the MAC, President William Lai, and the Straits Exchange Foundation consistently call for communication with China on an equal footing while safeguarding the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its democratic system. He also said Beijing has labelled some actions by the Taiwan government as moves toward independence and has threatened penalties against Taiwanese politicians, prosecutors and officials who take such positions. “We hope that both sides exercise restraint,” Liang added.
Separately, Liang addressed online speculation about a missing former member of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (the Sea Dragon Frogmen), surnamed Chen, who had transited through Hong Kong. After inquiries, MAC confirmed Chen is not in Hong Kong or Taiwan and that there is no current evidence he is in danger. (ANI)
