TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China will be allowed to send officials to attend a Taipei-Shanghai Forum next week unless it ramps up threats against Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council said Wednesday.

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) plans to host the summit on Dec. 17, but the decision has been slammed due to China’s military threats. China has sent dozens of naval and coast guard ships near Taiwan and announced restricted air space zones for this week’s exercises.

MAC Deputy Minister and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) said Wednesday the government agreed in principle that Shanghai could send a delegation to the twin cities forum, the Liberty Times reported. However, if during the following days, China ramped up its threats, Taipei City Government would agree with a central government move to postpone the event, Liang said.

The official wondered whether it was suitable to welcome Chinese officials to Taipei while the military was busy day and night monitoring interference by People’s Liberation Army aircraft and ships. 

Liang criticized Taipei for only filing paperwork about the expected guest list of more than 100 visitors from China two weeks before the forum. If the requested extra documents were not submitted to MAC, it would have no way of giving its approval, according to the deputy minister.