TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) stated on Friday (Dec. 13) that recent unfriendly actions by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (國台辦), including the introduction of the 22 guidelines against Taiwanese independence separatists, necessitated stricter scrutiny of Chinese officials visiting Taiwan.
In a statement, MAC wrote that China's measures, which include a hotline for reporting Taiwan independence advocates, pose significant safety risks to people traveling between the two regions. These actions have severely impacted cross-strait exchanges and interactions.
MAC officials emphasized that the government cannot ignore these developments and will strictly review applications from Chinese officials involved with Taiwan affairs to express protest and dissatisfaction. The MAC also called for dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected government.
MAC's responses came after it denied entry to Shanghai Taiwan Affairs Office (上海台辦) Director Jin Mei (金梅) and nine Chinese media representatives, citing security concerns, which Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) expressed regret over the partial approval of the Shanghai delegation's application to attend the Taipei-Shanghai City Forum next Tuesday.
MAC responded that, given the ongoing tensions and international concerns over the Taiwan Strait, the government must consider the overall situation when reviewing special case applications, evaluating factors such as relevance, professionalism, and necessity. MAC stated that Chinese media representatives' applications were denied due to their low relevance to the forum. It noted that eight media outlets with 12 journalists are already stationed in Taiwan, ensuring adequate coverage capabilities.
