TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) on Monday (Dec. 16) defended its decision to deny a Chinese media delegation entry to Taiwan. The council emphasized that all Chinese Communist Party (共產黨) media operate as propaganda outlets, not independent news entities, and thus, the decision does not infringe on press freedom. Moreover, MAC claimed there were already 8 Chinese media outlets and 12 Chinese journalists in Taiwan who could sufficiently report on the forum.
The Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum (台北上海雙城論壇), hosted by the Taipei City Government, is set to open on Tuesday. Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) and Vice Shanghai Mayor Yuan Hua (華源) will deliver opening remarks and sign a memorandum of cooperation. Despite the tense cross-strait situation, MAC noted that the government has shown goodwill to ensure the forum proceeds smoothly.
The council assured that the government has not obstructed forum participants, maintaining a policy of strict scrutiny based on relevance, professionalism, and necessity. Reaffirming its commitment to fostering healthy and orderly cross-strait exchanges, the council stressed its stringent review of applications from key Chinese officials. It called on the Taipei City Government to cooperate with the central government to facilitate the forum's success.
