Taiwan Upholds Ban on Senior Chinese TAO Officials, Points to Beijing’s Lack of Goodwill

Taipei [Taiwan] : According to a Taipei Times story, the government’s stance on preventing senior officials from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) from entering the nation remains unchanged, citing Beijing’s continuous lack of goodwill.

Taiwan Upholds Ban on Senior Chinese TAO Officials , See Full information below

MAC Deputy Chairman Liang Wen-chieh defended the government’s position in response to media questioning over a Shanghai delegation that visited the Taipei Lantern Festival. Rather than the director of its Shanghai office, the delegation was led by a lower-ranking TAO official.

Liang noted that this structure was clearly indicated in the TAO’s admission application and that the council had not received any applications from the Shanghai office director or deputy director, according to the Taipei Times.

According to the article, China’s choice to send a junior official may be related to large-scale military drills performed in Taiwan last year, just after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wen-an returned from the Shanghai-Taipei Twin City Forum in Shanghai. During that event, Chiang advocated for peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.

The council banned senior TAO officials from accessing Taiwan in 2024 in reaction to the Chinese Communist Party’s publishing of a 22-point set of “guidelines” aimed against “die-hard” Taiwanese independence separatists. These legislation apparently included provisions for the death penalty. Liang stated that reconsidering the policy would need Beijing to demonstrate goodwill.Beyond the recommendations, China has maintained its political and military pressure on Taiwan. As a result, Liang stated that the council’s policy remains unchanged. He noted that the council, President William Lai, and the Straits Exchange Foundation have always advocated for equal communication between Taiwan and China, while protecting the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its democratic systems.

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According to the Taipei Times, Beijing has intimidated Taiwanese legislators, prosecutors, and officials who accept the government’s activities as a march toward independence.”We hope both sides use restraint,” Liang remarked.

In a separate incident, a former member of the 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, sometimes known as the Sea Dragon Frogmen, went missing after passing through Hong Kong. However, Liang stated that there were no urgent worries about his safety. According to the Taipei Times, the guy, surnamed Chen, has aroused significant internet conjecture regarding his whereabouts.

“After completing enquiries, it was determined that he was not in Hong Kong or Taiwan. We do not know where he is currently, but there is no proof that he is in danger,” Liang stated, according to the newspapers.