TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) unexpectedly postponed his Shanghai trip for the annual Taipei-Shanghai Twin Cities Forum, originally scheduled for Wednesday (Sept. 25). The mayor blamed technical issues and ongoing coordination problems with Taiwan's central government departments. Chiang emphasized that the city government decided to proceed cautiously after carefully reviewing the complex approval process.
Chiang dismissed speculation Tuesday morning that he was avoiding a meeting with Wang Huning (王滬寧), chairman of China's top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The mayor told reporters at a National Day event that critics were fabricating stories about his motives. Chiang stressed that administrative and technical reviews remain ongoing and require a cautious approach.
Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) explained Monday that delays stemmed from incomplete memorandums of understanding (MOUs) requiring approval from multiple Taiwan government agencies. Several departments have not responded to the city's requests for clearance, forcing continued negotiations between Taipei officials, Taiwan's central ministries, and Shanghai representatives. The complex approval process involves signing various cooperative agreements between the two cities.
Sources told United Daily News (聯合報), a major Taiwan newspaper, that some government departments have allegedly ignored or discouraged communications during the review process. The bureaucratic obstacles forced Taipei officials to renegotiate arrangements with Shanghai counterparts despite Taiwan's central government claiming to provide active assistance. The delays highlight tensions between local and central government coordination on cross-strait exchanges.
Opposition Kuomintang (國民黨) critics blamed Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會), the government body overseeing China policy, for causing extended review delays that derailed the forum. Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) expressed surprise and regret over Taipei's sudden decision to withdraw its application for the trip. Liang insisted the council had consistently supported the forum and was prepared to grant the necessary permissions for the delegation.
The forum has served as the primary official dialogue channel between Taipei and Shanghai since 2010, producing 47 memorandums of understanding on various cooperative projects. Last year's Taipei-hosted forum saw Shanghai Vice Mayor Hua Yuan (華源) announce new tourism openings for Taiwan visitors to mainland China. Both cities signed agreements on smart medical care and animal conservation exchanges during the 2024 meeting, continuing their tradition of practical cooperation.
Cross-strait tensions have intensified since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) took office in May, with China's President Xi Jinping (習近平) increasingly asserting the Communist Party's historical narrative and territorial claims. A United Daily News poll released Sunday (Sept. 21) showed 63% of Taiwanese disapprove of Lai's handling of China policy. The forum postponement occurs amid this deteriorating political climate between Taiwan and mainland China, highlighting the challenges facing cross-strait dialogue. ◼
