TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) agreed on Wednesday (Dec. 11) to allow a delegation from Shanghai (上海) to visit Taipei (台北) for the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum (雙城論壇), signaling a willingness to foster cross-strait harmony. MAC Deputy Minister and Spokesperson Liang Wen-jie (梁文傑), however, cautioned that if pressure from the Chinese Communist Party intensifies, the Taipei City Government will defer to central government decisions and may postpone the event.
Scheduled for Dec. 17, the forum faces uncertainty due to recent large-scale military actions by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near Taiwan. Liang noted at an afternoon press conference that these deployments have heightened tensions, prompting government agencies to maintain close monitoring, and remain in contact with the city government during this period. Historically held in July or August, this year's forum has been delayed until December. The MAC only granted approval after an internal meeting Tuesday afternoon and further discussions with the National Security Bureau (國安局) and the National Security Council (國安會) this morning.
